On AIDS Day, Bush sees goal reached

WASHINGTON - Marking World AIDS Day, President Bush said yesterday that his presidential initiative on the disease had already met its goal of treating two million people in sub-Saharan Africa.

When the administration launched the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief in 2003, the goal was to support two million people with lifesaving antiretroviral treatment in five years.

"I'm pleased to announce that we have exceeded that goal early," said Bush, standing with Laura Bush on the North Lawn of the White House, which was decorated with a giant red ribbon to mark the occasion. "The American people through PEPFAR are supporting lifesaving treatment for more than two million people around the world."

Bush's efforts against AIDS, particularly in the poorest parts of the world, earned praise from his successor. President-elect Barack Obama said he plans to continue Bush's campaign after he takes office in January.

When the president's program began, only 50,000 people living with HIV in all of sub-Sahara Africa were receiving antiretroviral treatment, Bush said. In addition, the United States has supported care for more than 10 million people around the world who are affected by HIV, including more than four million orphans and vulnerable children.

"More than 237,000 babies have been born HIV-free, thanks to the support of the American people for programs to prevent mothers from passing the virus on to their children," Bush said.