Oxfam welcomes Jim Kim's AIDS conference pledge to fight AIDS by building health systems for the poor

In reaction to remarks today by new World Bank President Jim Yong Kim at the International AIDS Conference in Washington, DC, Oxfam spokesperson Dr. Mohga Kamal-Yanni said:

"President Kim's pledge to fight AIDS by building health systems that deliver for the poor and expanding social safety nets is the right approach.

"The World Bank can do more to end AIDS and improve health outcomes in developing countries. It should help countries provide free health services, including medicines. The world must learn from the lessons of HIV treatment -- when even small fees are charged for health care, poor people are completely shut out, especially women.

"We warmly welcome Dr. Kim's message that the Bank's work should be focused on ending poverty, and we look forward to seeing this vision in action."

Background:

In his first public speech to a health conference as World Bank president, Jim Kim reminded the world it is possible to end AIDS. At a time when people doubted the possibility of treating people living with HIV in Africa, the WHO launched the 3 by 5 strategy under Kim’s leadership. Today there are over 8 million people on treatment.  Yet ending AIDS needs: investment in free public health services, decreased medicine prices, an end to stigma, and increased donor financing – especially fully funding the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB and Malaria, and agreeing a Financial Transaction Tax.