(I would add to his points that one of the reasons nutrition is now included in PEPFAR-supported programs is that we've learned that anti-retrovirals don't do much good if the patient doesn't have enough healthy food to eat. Adequate nutrition is just as important as the drugs themselves.)
Even better is the fact that all of these Senators make a big deal of being pro-life when they're up for re-election. Apparently that doesn't apply to children who are already here.
If you live in one of these states, this is your problem. Your Senators are elected to govern on your behalf, and to do what you want them to do. If you believe it's important for children and other victims of HIV/AIDS who are poor to get treatment, PLEASE take a minute to call your Senator and ask him to release their holds on the re-authorization for PEPFAR:
- Tom Coburn, M.D. (Oklahoma) - Senator Coburn is leading the effort to block this program. The fact that he is a doctor makes this all the more appalling. 202-224-5754
- Jim DeMint (South Carolina) - 202-224-6121
- Jeff Sessions (Alabama) - 202 -224-4124
- Saxby Chambliss (Georgia) - 202-224-3521
- David Vitter (Louisiana) - 202-224-4623
- Jim Bunning (Kentucky) - 202-224-4343
- Richard Burr (North Carolina) - 202-224-3154
And I'm taking pictures of Olivier with me.
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If this is something you feel is important, please post about it on your blog this week. Feel free to copy and paste anything you need from this post. I think the lives of 3,000,000 people are worth any effort we can make.