WORLD AIDS DAY

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Report Card

W.A.D. Kit

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Global Call

PUTTING THE WORLD IN LOCAL WORLD AIDS DAY COMMEMORATIONS

On December 1 every year, many communities across the world hold ceremonies to commemorate the dead, celebrate the living, and renew a pledge to fight against the AIDS epidemic.

In the United States and other wealthier nations, many people are living much longer and healthier lives due to access to anti-HIV therapies and medicine to treat AIDS-related infections.

In many countries, the astronomical prices charged for medicine and the crushing debt payments imposed by the IMF and World Bank effectively deny access to drugs for 95% of the globe's people with HIV. In a number of African nations, 25% of the population has HIV and new infections rates are growing rapidly.

WORLD AIDS DAY REPORT CARD:
HAS ACCESS TO LIFE-SAVING AIDS MEDICINES
IMPROVED IN POOR COUNTRIES?

The year 2000 has been a banner year for pronouncements from the major multinational pharmaceutical companies regarding 'commitments' to make a difference in the global HIV/AIDS epidemic. Drug donation or price reduction programs have been announced, but little or no HIV treatment has reached people in the developing world.

Read the World AIDS Day Report Card online or download the PDF file.

WORLD AIDS DAY KIT
AVAILABLE NOW TO DOWNLOAD:
If you have software such as Unstuffit, you can download self-expandable files:
W.A.D. KIT for Mac: .sit file or .hqx file | W.A.D. KIT for PC (.exe file)
To download individual files, click on the pdf or doc hotlinks below:

Open Letter to AIDS Activists
   (pdf)
World AIDS Day flyer
   (pdf)
Health GAP Contact info
   (pdf)
Global Treatment Access Issues Update
   (pdf)
Action Sheet: Get Involved
   (pdf)
Sample press release focusing on global access issues.
   (.doc)
Fact Sheet: Glaxo SmithKline Snatches Drugs from Poor Ghanaians with AIDS.
   (.pdf)
How to make easy posters
   (pdf)
Health GAP World AIDS Day Report Card
   (pdf)
Grassroots Media Guide: ACT UP Philadelphia's Guide on Media Work
   (pdf) NOTE: To download artwork for reproduction for posters and stickers, click here to choose sizes and slogans.

If you experience problems downloading the W.A.D. Kit, please e-mail gtac_website@hotmail.com.
To receive a World AIDS Day kit via fax or mail, please send an e-mail to gtac_website@hotmail.com or call +1-215-731-1844.

THE ROLE OF THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT

As the largest shareholder in most international institutions the United States Government leads and directs everything from the World Health Organization to the World Bank.

The US Government claims that it is accountable to its citizens. US residents have a right to insist that their government take the steps needed to save millions of lives.

It is a democratic right to demand that the United States value millions of lives more than drug company profit margins.

ACTIVIST DEMANDS OF THE UNITED STATES

There is a simple equation to staunch the death and dying. Demand the United States use its clout and power to:

Force the IMF and World Bank to use their own financial resources to cancel the debts of the world's poorest countries. Debt cancellation must no longer be linked to structural adjustment policies.

Force the World Health Organization to create a global program for public and private sector generic drug manufacturers that generates the massive economies of scale in manufacturing and raw materials, country level drug registry, and create a global generic distribution system.

A global program of generic drug manufacture and distribution can put sophisticated AIDS treatment into the hands of people with AIDS in poor countries at prices 99-99.9% lower than the prices charged in wealthy countries. Debt cancellation, coupled with assistance from donor nations and foundations, will enable impoverished nations to pay for medicines needed to treat millions with no access.