Global Health Leaders Cite Faith-Based Programs As Successful Models for HIV/AIDS Care and Treatment

11/17/2003

From: Lynnette Johnson Williams of the Global Health Council, 202-327-5003 or 202-255-0565 (cell) or ljohnsonwilliams@globalhealth.org; Claudia Hite of the Catholic Medical Mission Board, 212-609-2581 or chite@cmmb.org

NEW YORK, Nov. 17 -- Participants in a global AIDS forum today challenged global health organizations to develop HIV/AIDS prevention, care and treatment programs that work closely with successful and sustainable faith-based models. At a New York forum co-sponsored by the Catholic Medical Mission Board (CMMB) and the Global Health Council, international, private sector and religious policy and health officials provided numerous statistical and humanitarian examples illustrating the impact of AIDS programs carried out by faith-based organizations.

The forum was part of CMMB's two-day 75th anniversary celebration and included more than 70 global healthcare representatives and faith-based organizations from 15 countries. The forum examined the role of faith-based organizations in HIV/AIDS care, prevention, and treatment as well as the significance of faith-based and non-faith-based partnerships.

"CMMB has taken a great leadership role to mobilize and influence the governmental, faith-based, and nongovernmental international organizations needed to respond to the overwhelming and urgent needs of those suffering from the HIV/AIDS pandemic and to children dying of preventable diseases around the world," said John F. Galbraith president and chief executive officer of CMMB. "Our work speaks for itself -- 96 cents for every dollar earned by CMMB goes directly towards providing medical assistance to people in need in the developing world."

Dr. Nils Daulaire, president and CEO of the Global Health Council, the world's largest membership alliance dedicated to saving lives by improving health throughout the world, said, "Only through solid partnerships can the global health community effectively address the comprehensive and complex facets of the AIDS pandemic. Faith-based organizations are often the first and most reliable sources of care for many of the world's most vulnerable. Working together, we can change AIDS from a death sentence to a realistic hope for life."

U.S. Sen. Mike DeWine (R-Ohio), a leading advocate of increased support for AIDS efforts, praised the CMMB and forum participants for their work to save lives.

"In our travels to Africa, Haiti and Guyana, my wife Fran and I witnessed groups and organizations already in action to deal with the HIV/AIDS crisis. It was heartwarming to hear about the good work they are already doing," said Senator DeWine. "Recently the Senate passed my amendment to provide $289 million towards the fight against global AIDS, Malaria, and TB. It is my hope that this money, along with the time, resources, support and prayers of the American people, can save lives."

CMMB and the Global Health Council teamed with the following global leaders for the forum: Peter Piot, executive director UNAIDS; Dr. Joseph F. O'Neil, deputy coordinator and chief medical officer of the Office of the Global AIDS Coordinator at the Department of State; Mohammed Abdullah, chairperson, Kenya Medical Research Institute; Phangisile Mtshali, director of Bristol Myers Squibb Foundation Community Outreach and Education Fund.

After working as a volunteer with lepers in Haiti, Dr. Paluel Flagg, an anesthesiologist at St. Vincent's Hospital Manhattan, founded the Catholic Medical Mission Board in 1928. Today, CMMB works collaboratively with programs that treat HIV/AIDS in Africa, tuberculosis in Zambia, and early childhood diseases in Latin America and the Caribbean.

Highlights of CMMB programs include:

-- CMMB's Choose to Care program represents a commitment of $5 million for five years, and focuses on orphan care and placement, HIV/AIDS treatment and education, and care of the dying. Since inception in February 2000 through fiscal year 2003, Choose to Care has funded 140 community-based projects to date and 84 currently.

-- In addition to basic care, CMMB's Born to Live prevention of mother-to-child transmission of (PMTCT) HIV/AIDS programs provide counseling to pregnant women about HIV/AIDS, including testing and education. Since January 2003, CMMB has initiated 32 PMTCT sites in South Africa, Kenya, Swaziland and Haiti that counsel approximately 1,900 women a month.

-- In 2002, CMMB partnered with the Pan American Health Organization and faith-based healthcare facilities to respond to children younger than five years of age who die every year from preventable and treatable diseases in Latin America and the Caribbean. Accion Por La Salud Familiar/Action for Family Health represents a $4.4 million commitment that aims to save 100,000 lives utilizing the strategy for the Integrated Management of Childhood Illnesses.

-- Since 1928, Global Initiatives include recruitment and placement of medical volunteers, medicine and medical supply shipments, emergency relief and training grants for in-country primary healthcare workers to over 100 countries. In fiscal year 2003, CMMB shipped approximately $130 million dollars in medicines and medical supplies to 50 countries. In the same period, CMMB deployed 222 volunteers to 31 countries, resulting in 14,673 volunteer days worked valued at approximately US$4,303,065.

Founded in 1928, the Catholic Medical Mission Board works collaboratively with programs that treat HIV/AIDS in Africa, tuberculosis in Zambia, and early childhood diseases in Latin America and the Caribbean. Global aid initiatives include: recruitment and placement of medical volunteers, medicine and medical supply shipments. In fiscal year 2003, CMMB provided more than US$130 million in global aid, primarily through its network of faith-based organizations throughout the world.

The Global Health Council is the world's largest membership alliance dedicated to saving lives by improving health throughout the world. The Council serves and represents thousands of public health professionals from 103 countries on six continents.

The forum will be webcast by kaisernetwork.org, a free service of the Kaiser Family Foundation, available after 12 p.m. ET, on Thursday, Nov. 20, 2003 at http://www.kaisernetwork.org/healthcast/ghc/17nov03 Along with the webcast, a transcript, speaker presentations, and related resources will also be available.