By Kay Scrimger
July 12, 2004

Ambassador Randall L. Tobias, U.S. Global AIDS Coordinator, U. S. Department of State, addressed the Sunday Plenary Session of the 72nd Annual Conference of Mayors in Boston.

"I am quite certain that your duties as mayor give you the opportunity to respond to disasters that affect your city," he said.

"Imagine that 20 Boeing 747s, each carrying 400 passengers, crashed, killing all on board. The equivalent of that is happening every day — 8,000 people are dying each day from AIDS.

"Forty million people around the world are infected with HIV/AIDS, and 90 to 95 percent do not even know that they are infected.

"In 2003, three million people died of complications of AIDS, and five million more became infected.

"We are losing the war."

Tobias observed, "The good news is that early, effective leadership can make a difference. But where leaders are silent, inactive, or worse, the disease continues to spread. Leadership is essential in this battle," he stated.

Tobias pointed out that as leader of the United States, President George W. Bush has developed a plan of $15 billion over a five-year period to address the global AIDS pandemic. "I am honored that the President asked me to lead his emergency plan," he said.

Tobias also cited the example of dynamic leadership in Uganda, where the head of state has fought stigma, denial, and misinformation by directly confronting the disease. Uganda has experienced a marked decline in the number of new AIDS cases.

"We need to support and encourage leaders in these countries in every way we can," the Ambassador pointed out, noting that while in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, recently, he himself had gotten tested for AIDS. The Addis Ababa mayor followed his example, and since that time, more than 100 public officials have been tested, with ample media coverage of their action.

"Today, June 27, is National HIV Testing Day in the United States," Tobias said. "I recommend that you consider getting tested and publicize it," he suggested to the mayors.

Tobias pointed out that the HIV/AIDS crisis is very complex. "We need to reduce stigma about the disease, provide drugs to those infected, and make testing available," he said.

Other major challenges in developing countries are human infrastructure and capacity, he said. In the early years, the U.S. plan is to make a large investment in meeting the infrastructure and capacity needs, thus building the foundation for sustainable long-term, effective programs, the Ambassador noted. Tobias commended the mayors and the United States Conference of Mayors, emphasizing that, "Many of you have been in the forefront of the battle against HIV/AIDS." Your efforts in the United States and in your Africa Mission in September 2003 are examples of leadership," he stated.