Bill Clinton on HIV/AIDS: Much More Needs to be Done

19 July 2010

Former President Bill Clinton addressed the 18th International AIDS Conference in Vienna Monday. He said while much progress has been made in the fight against the epidemic, much more remains to be done, including on human rights.

Mr. Clinton was the keynote speaker at Monday’s plenary session at AIDS 2010.

“This year’s conference theme – Rights Here, Right Now – reminds us that health care should be a right for everyone, but isn’t,” he said.

While progress has been made, he said, it is not the time to become complacent.

“Notwithstanding the current economic difficulties, the evidence of the progress that has been made in the last few years is not an excuse to walk away from that right. It’s an excuse to run toward it for all of us.”

The former president expects the AIDS conference to produce – what he calls – encouraging scientific news.

President Clinton speaking at the 18th International AIDS Conference in Vienna

That may include Tuesday’s announcement about whether a microbicide called CAPRISA 004 works. Microbicide trials in the past have all failed to show any protection against HIV. But CAPRISA 004, a gel, is the first to contain anti-retroviral drugs.

Don’t rest on laurels

Mr. Clinton said successes against the epidemic need to translate into a long-term strategy.