Congresswoman Barbara Lee Visits Global Health Programs in Uganda, Participates in 126th Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union
Contact: Ricci Graham
(510) 763-0370
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-09) joined a number of U.S. policymakers and stakeholders in traveling with CARE - a global poverty-fighting organization - on a Learning Tour through Uganda to focus on health, governance, gender and savings in urban and rural settings.
Congresswoman Lee, a member of the House Appropriations Committee, was joined on the trip by Sen. Johnny Isakson (R-GA.), Rep. Jack Kingston (R-GA), CARE USA CEO Helene Gayle and top executives from United Parcel Service, Inc. The five-day trip was designed to highlight the success of integrated programs in the country, which brings together various tools and services to provide a holistic approach to overcoming poverty. The delegation also visited several US PEPFAR-funded health clinics that once focused primarily on HIV treatment but have extended programming to address issues such as childhood nutrition and financial literacy. Additionally, Congresswoman Lee addressed the 126th Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union to discuss the successes and challenges in making the law work for the global AIDS response.
As the United States representative to the Global Commission on HIV and the Law, Congresswoman Lee is one of 15 of the world’s most respected legal, human rights and HIV leaders. As part of a global drive to remove barriers to progress in the AIDS response, the Global Commission on HIV and the Law is finalizing a two-year review of research, analysis and community consultations to build an understanding of how legal environments influence HIV epidemics. A final report of the Global Commissions report is forthcoming.
Responding on behalf of the Global Commission on HIV and the Law, Congresswoman Lee said: “The effectiveness of the global HIV response will depend not just on the scale-up of HIV prevention, treatment and care, but on whether the legal and social environments support or hinder programs for those who are most vulnerable. This requires bold and effective legal and policy measures to reach out to vulnerable communities and individuals at risk.”
In Uganda, Congresswoman Lee also met Mr. John Roberts, the first recipient of antiretroviral drugs funded by the US PEPFAR program. Said Lee “United States global health leadership is making historic progress, touching the lives of millions of families and communities around the world. Foreign assistance is just a fraction of 1% of the federal budget, yet enables PEPFAR and the Global Fund to continue its critical, life-saving work.”
Those interested in interviewing Congresswoman Lee about her trip to Uganda should call Ricci Graham at (510) 763-0370.
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