Swine flu keeps WHO on alert
Nigeria News.Net
Sunday 26th April, 2009
The swine flu outbreak in Mexico and the United States has the World Health Organisation worried.
The WHO has described the outbreak as an uncontrollable disease with pandemic potential.
An emergency meeting of experts was called on Saturday to discuss the scare and decide whether advisories should be raised to warn people of the alert level.
While the flu level is currently three on a scale of six, suggesting there is very limited risk of a new virus spreading from human to human, officials in Mexico City have shut down schools, museums and other public venues.
It is believed the swine flu outbreak may have killed more than 60 people and infected about 1,000 in Mexico.
US authorities have said American cases have been mild, affecting only eight people who have all recovered.
Swine flu usually occurs in people who have been exposed to pigs, with human-to-human transmission also possible.
Symptoms include fever, lethargy, lack of appetite and coughing, which are the same as normal flu.
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Tuesday, April 28, 2009
[Barack Obama, World AIDS Day Speech, Lake Forest, CA, 12/1/06]
“We are all sick because of AIDS - and we are all tested by this crisis. It is a test not only of our willingness to
respond, but of our ability to look past the artificial divisions and debates that have often shaped that
response. When you go to places like Africa and you see this problem up close, you realize that it's not a
question of either treatment or prevention – or even what kind of prevention – it is all of the above. It is not
an issue of either science or values – it is both. Yes, there must be more money spent on this disease. But
there must also be a change in hearts and minds, in cultures and attitudes. Neither philanthropist nor scientist,
neither government nor church, can solve this problem on their own - AIDS must be an all-hands-on-deck
effort.”
[Barack Obama, World AIDS Day Speech
respond, but of our ability to look past the artificial divisions and debates that have often shaped that
response. When you go to places like Africa and you see this problem up close, you realize that it's not a
question of either treatment or prevention – or even what kind of prevention – it is all of the above. It is not
an issue of either science or values – it is both. Yes, there must be more money spent on this disease. But
there must also be a change in hearts and minds, in cultures and attitudes. Neither philanthropist nor scientist,
neither government nor church, can solve this problem on their own - AIDS must be an all-hands-on-deck
effort.”
[Barack Obama, World AIDS Day Speech
BARACK OBAMA AND JOE BIDEN’S PLAN TO COMBAT GLOBAL HIV/AIDS
There are an estimated 33 million people across the planet living with HIV/AIDS, including more than 1 million
people in the U.S. Nearly 6,000 people die every day of AIDS. Despite advances in knowledge about HIV and
effective treatment options, the rate of HIV infections has not fallen, and, in fact, is rising dramatically in
certain racial and ethnic groups. Barack Obama and Joe Biden believe that we must do more to fight the global
HIV/AIDS pandemic, as well as malaria and tuberculosis. In 2006, Barack Obama traveled to Kenya and,
along with his wife Michelle, took an HIV/AIDS test to encourage African men and women to be tested for the
disease. Barack Obama and Joe Biden believe in working across party lines to combat this epidemic. Barack
Obama has worked in both the Illinois and U.S. Senate to increase awareness and to promote greater investment
for HIV/AIDS in America and abroad. As president, he will continue to be a global leader in the fight against
AIDS.
HIV/AIDS IN AMERICA
Implement a National HIV/AIDS Strategy: Barack Obama has pledged that, in the first year of his
presidency, he will develop and begin to implement a comprehensive national HIV/AIDS strategy that includes
all federal agencies. The strategy will be designed to reduce HIV infections, increase access to care and reduce
HIV-related health disparities. His strategy will include measurable goals, timelines and accountability
mechanisms. Obama passed legislation in Illinois to require public service announcements promoting
HIV/AIDS screening. As president, Obama will continue to increase awareness of the disease.
Fix the Nation’s Health Care System: Nearly 46 million Americans are uninsured in this country. Barack
Obama is committed to signing universal health care legislation by the end of his first term in office that ensures
all Americans have high-quality, affordable health care coverage. The Obama-Biden health plan will save a
typical American family up to $2,500 every year on medical expenditures by providing affordable,
comprehensive and portable health coverage for every American; modernizing the U.S. health care system to
contain spiraling health care costs and improve the quality of patient care; and promoting prevention and
strengthening public health to prevent disease and protect against natural and man-made disasters. The Obama-
Biden plan will ensure that people living with HIV have access to lifesaving treatment and care.
Bring Medicaid Coverage to Low-Income, HIV-Positive Americans: Obama is a cosponsor of the Early
Treatment for HIV Act, which would help provide Medicaid coverage to more low-income, HIV-positive
Americans. The bill would also increase the number of people who receive the medications necessary to treat
HIV infections.
Fight Disparities in Minority Communities: HIV/AIDS has hit some communities harder than others. For
example, while African Americans make up 13 percent of the U.S. population, they make up 49 percent of new
HIV/AIDS cases. AIDS is the leading cause of death of African American women aged 25-34, and the third
leading cause of death of African American men in the same age group. In 2005, 64 percent of women living
with HIV/AIDS were black. In our nation’s capital alone, African Americans account for 81 percent of new
reports of HIV cases and about 86 percent of people with AIDS. Barack Obama and Joe Biden are committed
to targeting resources to promote innovative HIV/AIDS testing initiatives in minority communities and
partnering with a wide-range of community leaders from churches to community organizations. But we must
also tackle the scourge of poverty where HIV and AIDS proliferate. Barack Obama and Joe Biden will
continue to fight poverty and homelessness, key drivers of this epidemic. We need to better target care for
people in communities of color, where the disease is moving most quickly. Barack Obama and Joe Biden will
tackle the root causes of health disparities by addressing differences in access to health insurance coverage and
promoting prevention and public health, both of which play a major role in addressing disparities. They will
also challenge the medical system to eliminate inequities in health care through quality measurement and
reporting, implementation of effective interventions such as patient navigation programs and diversification of
the health workforce.
Improve Quality of Life for Those Living with HIV/AIDS: Barack Obama is a strong supporter of the Ryan
White Care Act (RWCA), which provides critical access to life-saving treatment and care for over half a million
low-income Americans with HIV/AIDS. The RWCA is one of the largest sources of federal funds for primary
health care and support services for patients with HIV/AIDS. The bill was named after Ryan White, an Indiana
teenager whose courageous struggle with HIV/AIDS helped educate the nation. Throughout the recent
reauthorization of the RWCA, Obama worked closely with RWCA service providers, the Chicago Department
of Public Health, and the Illinois Department of Public Health to analyze and find ways to improve the program
for Illinois and for the nation. Barack Obama and Joe Biden will continue to protect the multifaceted care upon
which RWCA beneficiaries depend.
Promote AIDS Prevention: In addition to assuring access to treatment, Barack Obama and Joe Biden believe
we need to increase the focus on preventing new infections. We cannot keep pace with treatment needs if we
don’t also focus on prevention. This means pursuing a strategy that relies on sound science and builds on what
works. Barack Obama and Joe Biden support comprehensive sex education that is age-appropriate. They
support increasing federal appropriations for science-based HIV prevention programs. They support the
JUSTICE Act, which would prevent transmission of HIV within the incarcerated population. They also support
legislation that would lift the ban on federal funding for needle exchange as a strategy to reduce HIV
transmission among injection drug users and their partners and children.
Assure Adequate and Safe Housing for Those Living With HIV: Barack Obama and Joe Biden support
increased funding for Housing Opportunities for People with AIDS (HOPWA) and other pertinent housing
programs. These programs aim to assure that adequate and safe housing is available for all disabled and lowincome
people with HIV/AIDS in the U.S.
Expand Funding for Research: Barack Obama and Joe Biden will expand funding for research, especially for
prevention options including a vaccine and microbicides. Microbicides are a class of products currently under
development that women apply topically to prevent transmission of HIV and other infections. Barack Obama
led an effort with Senator Olympia Snowe (R-ME) and others to introduce the Microbicide Development Act,
which will accelerate the development of products that empower women in the battle against AIDS. In the
United States, the percentage of women diagnosed with AIDS has quadrupled over the last 20 years. Today,
women account for more than one quarter of all new HIV/AIDS diagnoses.
Expand Access to HIV/AIDS Testing for Pregnant Women: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
recommend that voluntary HIV screening be included in the routine panel of prenatal screening tests for all
pregnant women. In the Illinois State Senate, Barack Obama sponsored the successful Prenatal HIV Prevention
Act, which ensures that every health care professional who provides health care services to a pregnant woman
will provide HIV counseling and offer HIV testing. He also passed legislation in Illinois requiring that
insurance coverage under the Illinois Insurance Code, Health Maintenance Organization Act and the Voluntary
Health Services Plans Act include coverage of prenatal HIV testing.
GLOBAL HIV/AIDS
Provide Universal Access for the Global Fight Against HIV/AIDS: Barack Obama and Joe Biden know that
in the 21st century, progress must not just mean political freedom – it must mean freedom from fear and
freedom from want. Barack Obama and Joe Biden believe that a comprehensive, long-term approach to
combating HIV/AIDS is an important investment in our common security and humanity. They have pledged to
provide at least $50 billion by 2013 for the global fight against HIV/AIDS, including our fair share of the
Global Fund, in order to at least double the number of HIV-positive people on treatment and continue to
provide treatments to one-third of all those who desperately need them. This funding will allow the U.S. to
meet its commitments that have been flat-funded by the Bush Administration, which includes expanding
existing programs to help the millions of children orphaned and made vulnerable by AIDS, increasing the
number of health care workers by at least one million, preventing violence against women and girls, and
improving health care systems so that U.S. assistance can be fully and effectively utilized.
Reauthorize and Revise PEPFAR: The U.S. has dramatically increased funding for global HIV and AIDS
programs through the President’s Emergency Program for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), but the program has faced
controversy. Barack Obama believes that our first priority should be to implement the recently signed
President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), legislation Barack Obama long-supported, to ensure
that best practices – not ideology – to drive funding for HIV/AIDS programs.
Strengthen Health Care Infrastructure: Barack Obama and Joe Biden are committed to increasing U.S.
investments in the capacity building needed to ensure that poor countries are able to develop the health care
infrastructure necessary to prevent and treat HIV/AIDS, promote basic health care, reduce the spread of malaria
and TB, and prevent and, if necessary, contain the spread of avian flu and other pandemics.
Increase Contribution to the Global Fund: Barack Obama and Joe Biden support increasing U.S.
contributions to the Global Fund for AIDS, malaria, and TB so that our assistance is coordinated with aid
provided by other governments and private donors and so that the burden on poor countries is reduced.
Increase Access to Affordable Drugs: Barack Obama and Joe Biden believe that people in developing
countries living with HIV/AIDS should have access to safe, affordable generic drugs to treat HIV/AIDS. They
will break the stranglehold that a few big drug and insurance companies have on these life-saving drugs. They
support the rights of sovereign nations to access quality-assured, low-cost generic medication to meet their
pressing public health needs under the WTO’s Declaration on Trade Related Aspects of Intellectual Property
Rights (TRIPS). Barack Obama and Joe Biden also support the adoption of humanitarian licensing policies that
ensure medications developed with U.S. taxpayer dollars are available off-patent in developing countries.
Invest in Clean Water: As more people have access to affordable drugs, the developed world must also invest
in the clean water necessary to ensure that life saving drugs can be taken. More than 1 billion people lack
access to clean water, and that number will increase with the impact of climate change. Through increasing
funding by up to $1.3 billion annually and innovative programs like “play pumps,” Barack Obama and Joe
Biden will expand access to clean water and sanitation.
Close the Education Deficit: Worldwide, an estimated 100 million children – including nearly 60 million girls
– are not attending school. By 2010, getting these children into school could cost $10 billion annually. To meet
our share of that sum, Barack Obama and Joe Biden will invest at least $2 billion in a Global Education Fund.
Achieve the Millennium Development Goals: As president, Barack Obama will double U.S. foreign
assistance from $25 billion per year to $50 billion per year to ensure the U.S. does its share to meet the
Millennium Development Goals, including halving the number of people who die of tuberculosis and/or are
affected by malaria. In 2005, Obama cosponsored the International Cooperation to Meet the Millennium
Development Goals Act. Barack Obama will target this new spending toward strategic goals, including helping
the world’s weakest states to build healthy and educated communities, reduce poverty, develop markets, and
generate wealth. He will also help weak states to fight terrorism, halt the spread of deadly weapons, and build
the health care infrastructure needed to prevent and treat HIV/AIDS as well as detect and contain outbreaks of
avian influenza.
Invest in Comprehensive Poverty Reduction to Help Fight All Deadly Disease: In addition to the havoc
wreaked by HIV/AIDS, TB and malaria continue to kill millions and undercut economic productivity in the
developing world. Investments in fighting HIV/AIDS cannot come at the expense of investments in other key
development challenges like preventing disease and improving child health and survival. Barack Obama and
Joe Biden will ensure the United States is committed to a comprehensive anti-poverty program.
Reduce Debt of Developing Nations: Developing nations are amassing tremendous amounts of foreign debt
that limit their economic development and make investments in public health, education, and infrastructure
extremely difficult. Debt in Sub-Saharan Africa stands at $235 billion, 44 percent of the region’s gross
domestic product and an increase of 33 percent since 1990. Barack Obama and Joe Biden would work with
other developed nations and multilateral institutions to cancel remaining onerous debt while pushing reforms to
keep developing nations from slipping into fiscal ruin. Barack Obama and Joe Biden also would better
coordinate trade and development policies to use the full range of America’s economic power to help
developing nations reap the benefits of the global trading system. Obama cosponsored the Multilateral Debt
Relief Act of 2005 to provide multilateral debt relief to Heavily Indebted Poor Countries.
people in the U.S. Nearly 6,000 people die every day of AIDS. Despite advances in knowledge about HIV and
effective treatment options, the rate of HIV infections has not fallen, and, in fact, is rising dramatically in
certain racial and ethnic groups. Barack Obama and Joe Biden believe that we must do more to fight the global
HIV/AIDS pandemic, as well as malaria and tuberculosis. In 2006, Barack Obama traveled to Kenya and,
along with his wife Michelle, took an HIV/AIDS test to encourage African men and women to be tested for the
disease. Barack Obama and Joe Biden believe in working across party lines to combat this epidemic. Barack
Obama has worked in both the Illinois and U.S. Senate to increase awareness and to promote greater investment
for HIV/AIDS in America and abroad. As president, he will continue to be a global leader in the fight against
AIDS.
HIV/AIDS IN AMERICA
Implement a National HIV/AIDS Strategy: Barack Obama has pledged that, in the first year of his
presidency, he will develop and begin to implement a comprehensive national HIV/AIDS strategy that includes
all federal agencies. The strategy will be designed to reduce HIV infections, increase access to care and reduce
HIV-related health disparities. His strategy will include measurable goals, timelines and accountability
mechanisms. Obama passed legislation in Illinois to require public service announcements promoting
HIV/AIDS screening. As president, Obama will continue to increase awareness of the disease.
Fix the Nation’s Health Care System: Nearly 46 million Americans are uninsured in this country. Barack
Obama is committed to signing universal health care legislation by the end of his first term in office that ensures
all Americans have high-quality, affordable health care coverage. The Obama-Biden health plan will save a
typical American family up to $2,500 every year on medical expenditures by providing affordable,
comprehensive and portable health coverage for every American; modernizing the U.S. health care system to
contain spiraling health care costs and improve the quality of patient care; and promoting prevention and
strengthening public health to prevent disease and protect against natural and man-made disasters. The Obama-
Biden plan will ensure that people living with HIV have access to lifesaving treatment and care.
Bring Medicaid Coverage to Low-Income, HIV-Positive Americans: Obama is a cosponsor of the Early
Treatment for HIV Act, which would help provide Medicaid coverage to more low-income, HIV-positive
Americans. The bill would also increase the number of people who receive the medications necessary to treat
HIV infections.
Fight Disparities in Minority Communities: HIV/AIDS has hit some communities harder than others. For
example, while African Americans make up 13 percent of the U.S. population, they make up 49 percent of new
HIV/AIDS cases. AIDS is the leading cause of death of African American women aged 25-34, and the third
leading cause of death of African American men in the same age group. In 2005, 64 percent of women living
with HIV/AIDS were black. In our nation’s capital alone, African Americans account for 81 percent of new
reports of HIV cases and about 86 percent of people with AIDS. Barack Obama and Joe Biden are committed
to targeting resources to promote innovative HIV/AIDS testing initiatives in minority communities and
partnering with a wide-range of community leaders from churches to community organizations. But we must
also tackle the scourge of poverty where HIV and AIDS proliferate. Barack Obama and Joe Biden will
continue to fight poverty and homelessness, key drivers of this epidemic. We need to better target care for
people in communities of color, where the disease is moving most quickly. Barack Obama and Joe Biden will
tackle the root causes of health disparities by addressing differences in access to health insurance coverage and
promoting prevention and public health, both of which play a major role in addressing disparities. They will
also challenge the medical system to eliminate inequities in health care through quality measurement and
reporting, implementation of effective interventions such as patient navigation programs and diversification of
the health workforce.
Improve Quality of Life for Those Living with HIV/AIDS: Barack Obama is a strong supporter of the Ryan
White Care Act (RWCA), which provides critical access to life-saving treatment and care for over half a million
low-income Americans with HIV/AIDS. The RWCA is one of the largest sources of federal funds for primary
health care and support services for patients with HIV/AIDS. The bill was named after Ryan White, an Indiana
teenager whose courageous struggle with HIV/AIDS helped educate the nation. Throughout the recent
reauthorization of the RWCA, Obama worked closely with RWCA service providers, the Chicago Department
of Public Health, and the Illinois Department of Public Health to analyze and find ways to improve the program
for Illinois and for the nation. Barack Obama and Joe Biden will continue to protect the multifaceted care upon
which RWCA beneficiaries depend.
Promote AIDS Prevention: In addition to assuring access to treatment, Barack Obama and Joe Biden believe
we need to increase the focus on preventing new infections. We cannot keep pace with treatment needs if we
don’t also focus on prevention. This means pursuing a strategy that relies on sound science and builds on what
works. Barack Obama and Joe Biden support comprehensive sex education that is age-appropriate. They
support increasing federal appropriations for science-based HIV prevention programs. They support the
JUSTICE Act, which would prevent transmission of HIV within the incarcerated population. They also support
legislation that would lift the ban on federal funding for needle exchange as a strategy to reduce HIV
transmission among injection drug users and their partners and children.
Assure Adequate and Safe Housing for Those Living With HIV: Barack Obama and Joe Biden support
increased funding for Housing Opportunities for People with AIDS (HOPWA) and other pertinent housing
programs. These programs aim to assure that adequate and safe housing is available for all disabled and lowincome
people with HIV/AIDS in the U.S.
Expand Funding for Research: Barack Obama and Joe Biden will expand funding for research, especially for
prevention options including a vaccine and microbicides. Microbicides are a class of products currently under
development that women apply topically to prevent transmission of HIV and other infections. Barack Obama
led an effort with Senator Olympia Snowe (R-ME) and others to introduce the Microbicide Development Act,
which will accelerate the development of products that empower women in the battle against AIDS. In the
United States, the percentage of women diagnosed with AIDS has quadrupled over the last 20 years. Today,
women account for more than one quarter of all new HIV/AIDS diagnoses.
Expand Access to HIV/AIDS Testing for Pregnant Women: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
recommend that voluntary HIV screening be included in the routine panel of prenatal screening tests for all
pregnant women. In the Illinois State Senate, Barack Obama sponsored the successful Prenatal HIV Prevention
Act, which ensures that every health care professional who provides health care services to a pregnant woman
will provide HIV counseling and offer HIV testing. He also passed legislation in Illinois requiring that
insurance coverage under the Illinois Insurance Code, Health Maintenance Organization Act and the Voluntary
Health Services Plans Act include coverage of prenatal HIV testing.
GLOBAL HIV/AIDS
Provide Universal Access for the Global Fight Against HIV/AIDS: Barack Obama and Joe Biden know that
in the 21st century, progress must not just mean political freedom – it must mean freedom from fear and
freedom from want. Barack Obama and Joe Biden believe that a comprehensive, long-term approach to
combating HIV/AIDS is an important investment in our common security and humanity. They have pledged to
provide at least $50 billion by 2013 for the global fight against HIV/AIDS, including our fair share of the
Global Fund, in order to at least double the number of HIV-positive people on treatment and continue to
provide treatments to one-third of all those who desperately need them. This funding will allow the U.S. to
meet its commitments that have been flat-funded by the Bush Administration, which includes expanding
existing programs to help the millions of children orphaned and made vulnerable by AIDS, increasing the
number of health care workers by at least one million, preventing violence against women and girls, and
improving health care systems so that U.S. assistance can be fully and effectively utilized.
Reauthorize and Revise PEPFAR: The U.S. has dramatically increased funding for global HIV and AIDS
programs through the President’s Emergency Program for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), but the program has faced
controversy. Barack Obama believes that our first priority should be to implement the recently signed
President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), legislation Barack Obama long-supported, to ensure
that best practices – not ideology – to drive funding for HIV/AIDS programs.
Strengthen Health Care Infrastructure: Barack Obama and Joe Biden are committed to increasing U.S.
investments in the capacity building needed to ensure that poor countries are able to develop the health care
infrastructure necessary to prevent and treat HIV/AIDS, promote basic health care, reduce the spread of malaria
and TB, and prevent and, if necessary, contain the spread of avian flu and other pandemics.
Increase Contribution to the Global Fund: Barack Obama and Joe Biden support increasing U.S.
contributions to the Global Fund for AIDS, malaria, and TB so that our assistance is coordinated with aid
provided by other governments and private donors and so that the burden on poor countries is reduced.
Increase Access to Affordable Drugs: Barack Obama and Joe Biden believe that people in developing
countries living with HIV/AIDS should have access to safe, affordable generic drugs to treat HIV/AIDS. They
will break the stranglehold that a few big drug and insurance companies have on these life-saving drugs. They
support the rights of sovereign nations to access quality-assured, low-cost generic medication to meet their
pressing public health needs under the WTO’s Declaration on Trade Related Aspects of Intellectual Property
Rights (TRIPS). Barack Obama and Joe Biden also support the adoption of humanitarian licensing policies that
ensure medications developed with U.S. taxpayer dollars are available off-patent in developing countries.
Invest in Clean Water: As more people have access to affordable drugs, the developed world must also invest
in the clean water necessary to ensure that life saving drugs can be taken. More than 1 billion people lack
access to clean water, and that number will increase with the impact of climate change. Through increasing
funding by up to $1.3 billion annually and innovative programs like “play pumps,” Barack Obama and Joe
Biden will expand access to clean water and sanitation.
Close the Education Deficit: Worldwide, an estimated 100 million children – including nearly 60 million girls
– are not attending school. By 2010, getting these children into school could cost $10 billion annually. To meet
our share of that sum, Barack Obama and Joe Biden will invest at least $2 billion in a Global Education Fund.
Achieve the Millennium Development Goals: As president, Barack Obama will double U.S. foreign
assistance from $25 billion per year to $50 billion per year to ensure the U.S. does its share to meet the
Millennium Development Goals, including halving the number of people who die of tuberculosis and/or are
affected by malaria. In 2005, Obama cosponsored the International Cooperation to Meet the Millennium
Development Goals Act. Barack Obama will target this new spending toward strategic goals, including helping
the world’s weakest states to build healthy and educated communities, reduce poverty, develop markets, and
generate wealth. He will also help weak states to fight terrorism, halt the spread of deadly weapons, and build
the health care infrastructure needed to prevent and treat HIV/AIDS as well as detect and contain outbreaks of
avian influenza.
Invest in Comprehensive Poverty Reduction to Help Fight All Deadly Disease: In addition to the havoc
wreaked by HIV/AIDS, TB and malaria continue to kill millions and undercut economic productivity in the
developing world. Investments in fighting HIV/AIDS cannot come at the expense of investments in other key
development challenges like preventing disease and improving child health and survival. Barack Obama and
Joe Biden will ensure the United States is committed to a comprehensive anti-poverty program.
Reduce Debt of Developing Nations: Developing nations are amassing tremendous amounts of foreign debt
that limit their economic development and make investments in public health, education, and infrastructure
extremely difficult. Debt in Sub-Saharan Africa stands at $235 billion, 44 percent of the region’s gross
domestic product and an increase of 33 percent since 1990. Barack Obama and Joe Biden would work with
other developed nations and multilateral institutions to cancel remaining onerous debt while pushing reforms to
keep developing nations from slipping into fiscal ruin. Barack Obama and Joe Biden also would better
coordinate trade and development policies to use the full range of America’s economic power to help
developing nations reap the benefits of the global trading system. Obama cosponsored the Multilateral Debt
Relief Act of 2005 to provide multilateral debt relief to Heavily Indebted Poor Countries.
PRAISE FOR BARACK OBAMA’S EFFORTS
“Today, Senator Obama laid out his vision to fight extreme poverty and global disease and make the world a
more stable and secure place for future generations. Extreme poverty takes the life of a child every three
seconds. The next president will have an opportunity like never before to save millions of lives and change
this monumental tragedy into a monumental triumph. ONE calls on all presidential candidates to take a
stand on these critical issues.
…ONE members are excited to hear Senator Obama and the other presidential contenders speak out and
offer plans on global disease and extreme poverty. For months now, ONE members have been following the
candidates on the campaign trail, asking them questions on how they will lead America and take on these
critical issues. ONE thanks Senator Obama and other candidates who have provided some concrete answers,
and we are eager to hear more in the days and months ahead.” David Lane, President & CEO, ONE;
11/27/2007
"Only Senator Obama has presented a specific spending plan that would not only increase AIDS spending but
also provide the increase needed overall for the US anti-poverty effort to have a holistic impact. The call for
the U.S. to dedicate just one percent of its budget to fighting global poverty is a reasonable and practical
proposal. Senator Obama has shown he understands why reaching this goal is both a moral imperative and in
the interest of the United States." Paul Zeitz, Executive Director of the Global AIDS Alliance Fund
PRAISE FOR BARACK OBAMA’S EFFORTS
"Senator Obama has long been a leader in the fight against HIV/AIDS at home and abroad. Obama's plan to
fight AIDS includes a commitment to invest at least $50 billion over 5 years for intensified international
prevention, care and treatment efforts. He also understands the crucial importance of investing in building
adequate healthcare infrastructure, improving access to education especially for girls, and reducing poverty as
key elements of any effective global strategy to tackle HIV/AIDS. When Barack and Michelle publicly took
AIDS tests in Kenya last year, they sent the message to millions that people with AIDS deserve compassion and
treatment not stigmatization. America, under President Obama, will play a crucial role in helping defeat the
AIDS pandemic that afflicts an estimated 33 million human beings." Dr. Susan Rice, Former Assistant
Secretary of State for African Affairs (1997-2001); Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director for
African Affairs, the National Security Council, the White House (1995-1997); Director for International
Organizations and Peacekeeping, National Security Council (1993-1995)
“Senator Obama has also added his voice to the growing chorus of African American leaders to create a mass
black mobilization to respond to the devastating impact of the AIDS epidemic on Black people. We salute the
Senator for taking the lead among presidential contenders in acknowledging the disproportionate impact this
epidemic is having on Black communities and pledging to focus on ending the AIDS epidemic in our
communities. That is exactly the kind of leadership Black people should expect from our next president. It is
time for all the presidential candidates to follow Senator Obama's lead and come to our communities and share
with us what they are going to do about AIDS in our communities to warrant our vote.” Phill Wilson, CEO and
Founder, Black AIDS Institute
"I see nothing but upsides for the fight against HIV in Senator Obama's visit (to Kenya). The senator's emphasis
on underlying cultural, social and economic issues like stigma and women's rights is right on target.” Drew
Altman, President and CEO, Kaiser Family Foundation
“Fighting AIDS is a moral obligation that goes beyond partisan politics. Iowans want to know, in detail, how
the candidates would ensure America keeps its promises, including in the area of HIV/AIDS. Senator Obama
has made clear how we can do that while at the same time ensuring the US response to poverty is broad and
effective.” Rev. Randy Gehring, Pastor in Ames, Iowa and a member of Iowans for AIDS Action
"I am thrilled to see that Senator Obama is coming out so clearly in favor of a comprehensive and fullyfunded
approach to global poverty. Children have been overlooked when it comes to the AIDS crisis, and it's
great to see that Obama has a strong proposal for what to do about it." Christina D'Allesandro, Steering
Committee of New Hampshire Fights AIDS
“Senator Obama’s plan includes many of the recommendations that people living with HIV/AIDS and AIDS
experts have made to all the candidates in both parties: universal health care and effective science-based
prevention – including needle exchange – in the US; at least $50B to fight global AIDS and ensure universal
access to HIV prevention, treatment, care and support; expanded research and new efforts to fight AIDS
stigma. If we do these things, the next President has a shot at actually ending AIDS as a killer pandemic. We’d
like to see the detail and the commitment demonstrated by Obama from every candidate – and we hope they’ll
all pay attention to the recommendations at AIDSVote.org.” Christine Campbell, Director of National
Advocacy and Organizing for Housing Works
“U.S. Sen. Barack Obama of Illinois told more than 2,000 evangelical leaders in Orange County on Friday that
he ‘respectfully but unequivocally’ disagrees with those who oppose condom distribution to fight the AIDS
pandemic. . . Obama drew a standing ovation from the 2,072 pastors and others who came from 39 states and
18 nations.” Los Angeles Times, December 2, 2006
“In a show of political unity, Obama took an AIDS test with a potential White House rival on the Republican
side Sen. Sam Brownback of Kansas. . . In another show of bipartisanship, the Illinois senator said President
George W. Bush does not get enough credit for committing $15 million against HIV and AIDS over five years.”
Associated Press, December 1, 2006
more stable and secure place for future generations. Extreme poverty takes the life of a child every three
seconds. The next president will have an opportunity like never before to save millions of lives and change
this monumental tragedy into a monumental triumph. ONE calls on all presidential candidates to take a
stand on these critical issues.
…ONE members are excited to hear Senator Obama and the other presidential contenders speak out and
offer plans on global disease and extreme poverty. For months now, ONE members have been following the
candidates on the campaign trail, asking them questions on how they will lead America and take on these
critical issues. ONE thanks Senator Obama and other candidates who have provided some concrete answers,
and we are eager to hear more in the days and months ahead.” David Lane, President & CEO, ONE;
11/27/2007
"Only Senator Obama has presented a specific spending plan that would not only increase AIDS spending but
also provide the increase needed overall for the US anti-poverty effort to have a holistic impact. The call for
the U.S. to dedicate just one percent of its budget to fighting global poverty is a reasonable and practical
proposal. Senator Obama has shown he understands why reaching this goal is both a moral imperative and in
the interest of the United States." Paul Zeitz, Executive Director of the Global AIDS Alliance Fund
PRAISE FOR BARACK OBAMA’S EFFORTS
"Senator Obama has long been a leader in the fight against HIV/AIDS at home and abroad. Obama's plan to
fight AIDS includes a commitment to invest at least $50 billion over 5 years for intensified international
prevention, care and treatment efforts. He also understands the crucial importance of investing in building
adequate healthcare infrastructure, improving access to education especially for girls, and reducing poverty as
key elements of any effective global strategy to tackle HIV/AIDS. When Barack and Michelle publicly took
AIDS tests in Kenya last year, they sent the message to millions that people with AIDS deserve compassion and
treatment not stigmatization. America, under President Obama, will play a crucial role in helping defeat the
AIDS pandemic that afflicts an estimated 33 million human beings." Dr. Susan Rice, Former Assistant
Secretary of State for African Affairs (1997-2001); Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director for
African Affairs, the National Security Council, the White House (1995-1997); Director for International
Organizations and Peacekeeping, National Security Council (1993-1995)
“Senator Obama has also added his voice to the growing chorus of African American leaders to create a mass
black mobilization to respond to the devastating impact of the AIDS epidemic on Black people. We salute the
Senator for taking the lead among presidential contenders in acknowledging the disproportionate impact this
epidemic is having on Black communities and pledging to focus on ending the AIDS epidemic in our
communities. That is exactly the kind of leadership Black people should expect from our next president. It is
time for all the presidential candidates to follow Senator Obama's lead and come to our communities and share
with us what they are going to do about AIDS in our communities to warrant our vote.” Phill Wilson, CEO and
Founder, Black AIDS Institute
"I see nothing but upsides for the fight against HIV in Senator Obama's visit (to Kenya). The senator's emphasis
on underlying cultural, social and economic issues like stigma and women's rights is right on target.” Drew
Altman, President and CEO, Kaiser Family Foundation
“Fighting AIDS is a moral obligation that goes beyond partisan politics. Iowans want to know, in detail, how
the candidates would ensure America keeps its promises, including in the area of HIV/AIDS. Senator Obama
has made clear how we can do that while at the same time ensuring the US response to poverty is broad and
effective.” Rev. Randy Gehring, Pastor in Ames, Iowa and a member of Iowans for AIDS Action
"I am thrilled to see that Senator Obama is coming out so clearly in favor of a comprehensive and fullyfunded
approach to global poverty. Children have been overlooked when it comes to the AIDS crisis, and it's
great to see that Obama has a strong proposal for what to do about it." Christina D'Allesandro, Steering
Committee of New Hampshire Fights AIDS
“Senator Obama’s plan includes many of the recommendations that people living with HIV/AIDS and AIDS
experts have made to all the candidates in both parties: universal health care and effective science-based
prevention – including needle exchange – in the US; at least $50B to fight global AIDS and ensure universal
access to HIV prevention, treatment, care and support; expanded research and new efforts to fight AIDS
stigma. If we do these things, the next President has a shot at actually ending AIDS as a killer pandemic. We’d
like to see the detail and the commitment demonstrated by Obama from every candidate – and we hope they’ll
all pay attention to the recommendations at AIDSVote.org.” Christine Campbell, Director of National
Advocacy and Organizing for Housing Works
“U.S. Sen. Barack Obama of Illinois told more than 2,000 evangelical leaders in Orange County on Friday that
he ‘respectfully but unequivocally’ disagrees with those who oppose condom distribution to fight the AIDS
pandemic. . . Obama drew a standing ovation from the 2,072 pastors and others who came from 39 states and
18 nations.” Los Angeles Times, December 2, 2006
“In a show of political unity, Obama took an AIDS test with a potential White House rival on the Republican
side Sen. Sam Brownback of Kansas. . . In another show of bipartisanship, the Illinois senator said President
George W. Bush does not get enough credit for committing $15 million against HIV and AIDS over five years.”
Associated Press, December 1, 2006
THE OBAMA-BIDEN PLAN TO COMBAT CANCER
Nearly 1.5 million Americans are expected to be diagnosed with cancer this year, joining over 10 million
Americans who have experienced cancer in their lifetime.1 Fighting cancer cost families and businesses $78
billion in medical costs last year, and the overall cost of cancer to our economy was estimated to be over $200
billion.2 Barack Obama understands firsthand the toll cancer takes on families – his mother died from ovarian
cancer in her early 50s and his grandfather battled prostate cancer. Barack Obama has spent his career fighting
to improve prevention and treatment of cancer. As an Illinois State Senator, Obama passed laws to mandate
insurance coverage of colorectal cancer examinations, ensure Medicaid coverage for treatment of breast and
cervical cancers, promote early detection of prostate and testicular cancers, and helped create the Illinois Task
Force on Cervical Cancer Elimination. As United States Senator, he has fought for increased funding for cancer
research, and championed genomics and personalized medicine to identify new and better treatments for cancer
and other diseases. As president, Barack Obama will build upon his career-long efforts and launch a new
campaign to combat cancer and provide greater lifetime support to cancer survivors and their families.
Double Funding for Cancer Research: The National Institutes of Health (NIH), National Cancer Institute
(NCI) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have made significant advances in understanding
cancer biology, and translating that knowledge into effective prevention programs, diagnostics, treatments and
cures. Notably, this knowledge has also benefited individuals with other diseases, such as autoimmune
disorders. Despite these advances, cancer funding has stagnated in recent federal budgets.3 Barack Obama and
Joe Biden are committed to reversing this trend, and providing our nation’s scientists with the resources they
need to expand and accelerate bench-to-bedside research that will lead to enhanced prevention and diagnostic
tools and innovative treatments. The Obama-Biden plan will double federal funding for cancer research within
5 years, focusing on NIH and NCI. Obama and Biden will also work with Congress to increase funding for the
Food and Drug Administration (FDA), an under-resourced agency that plays a critical role in ensuring that
advances in cancer research make a difference in the care of the millions of Americans who experience cancer.
And, their plan will provide additional funding for research on rare cancers and those without effective
treatment options; for the study of health disparities and evaluation of possible interventions; and efforts to
better understand genetic factors that can impact cancer onset and outcomes.
Ensure All Americans Have Affordable, Accessible and Quality Health Care: Individuals who lack health
insurance or are underinsured receive fewer preventive cancer screenings, have a greater likelihood of being
diagnosed with late stages of cancer, and experience poorer health outcomes than cancer patients who have
adequate insurance.4 The Obama-Biden administration will ensure affordable health coverage for all
Americans. His plan maintains patient choice, and establishes a National Health Insurance Exchange with a
range of private insurance options as well as a new public health plan to allow individuals and small businesses
to buy affordable and accessible health coverage similar to that available to federal employees. The Obama-
Biden health plan will provide tax credits to people so they can afford health care and will reduce the typical
family’s medical expenditures by $2,500 per year while providing them with more health care options and
greater security.
Ensure All Americans Have Access to Preventive Health Care: The Obama-Biden health plan will ensure
that all Americans have access to preventive health care services. Their proposal creates a voluntary national
pool, the National Health Insurance Exchange, comprised of a range of private plans and a new public plan.
These plans as well as all federally supported health plans, including Medicare, Medicaid and SCHIP, will be
required to cover all essential clinical preventive services with minimal or zero co-pays and deductibles. Under
the Obama-Biden plan, Medicaid co-pays for colorectal and breast cancer screenings will be eliminated, and
colorectal cancer screenings will be required in all group and individual health plans, for example. Obama and
Biden will also strengthen partnerships between federal, state and local public health authorities to expand
access to proven community-based prevention programs, extend prevention efforts into workplaces and schools,
and support federal initiatives, including the National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program
(NBCCEDP) that serves as a safety net for millions of women who would otherwise have no access to these
screenings. Finally, the Obama-Biden public health plan will expand investment in proven smoking cessation
programs and public education campaigns to raise awareness about tobacco-related cancer
End Insurance Discrimination: When cancer patients and cancer survivors change health insurance plans,
their new insurance companies currently have the ability to deny them insurance benefits because of their “preexisting”
condition. The Obama-Biden plan will end insurance company discrimination and guarantee that all
Americans – regardless of pre-existing conditions like cancer – will be able to purchase any private insurance
plan at an affordable and fair price. Barack Obama and Joe Biden are also proud of their longtime support of
the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act, a measure recently signed into law that will prevent insurance
companies from using information from genetic tests to restrict or deny coverage to individuals at risk from
cancer and other diseases.
Improve Access to Clinical Trials: Today, less than five percent of patients with cancer participate in clinical
trials,5 despite their importance in advancing cancer research and development of effective new treatments.
There are multiple reasons for low participation, including poor reimbursement for clinical research and a
growing shortage of clinical researchers. Barack Obama and Joe Biden will seek to increase participation in
clinical trials to 10 percent of adult cancer patients by requiring coverage of patient clinical trial costs in the
new public and private plans offered through the National Health Insurance Exchange, increasing NCI
reimbursement for patient participation in clinical research and requesting the NCI Director to identify
regulatory barriers that prevent the timely implementation and completion of successful clinical trials. Obama
and Biden will also enforce President Clinton’s 2000 Executive Memorandum that expanded Medicare
coverage to routine clinical trial costs, and reverse any successful attempts from the Bush Administration to
change this important safeguard for Medicare beneficiaries.
Support Evidence-Based Quality Improvement Interventions: The Obama-Biden health plan will improve
cancer outcomes by rewarding providers for achieving performance thresholds on outcome measures. Their
plan will require hospitals and providers to collect and publicly report measures of health care costs and quality,
including data on preventable medical errors, nurse staffing ratios, and hospital-acquired infections, so
individuals are able to compare providers. The Obama-Biden health care reform plan will also implement and
fund patient-centered programs, including patient navigator and medical home initiatives that help individuals
access and pursue comprehensive cancer treatment.
Improve Federal Coordination of Cancer Research, Treatment and Awareness Programs: The Obama-
Biden plan will maximize federal cancer funding by improving coordination both within the government and
across government/private/non-profit partnerships for research, treatment and awareness efforts. Currently,
several federal agencies are focused on different aspects of tackling cancer – NCI focuses on research, CDC on
cancer control, FDA on regulating cancer-related drugs, and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
(CMS) on paying for cancer-related care. Too often, efforts across these agencies are poorly coordinated,
leading to gaps in our national strategy to combat cancer. As president, Barack Obama will immediately direct
his Secretary of Health and Human Services, in collaboration with agency officials, academic researchers,
cancer survivors and advocates for people with cancer, and state public health officials, to comprehensively
examine the various cancer-related efforts of federal agencies, and provide recommendations to eliminate
barriers to effective coordination across federal agencies and between the federal government and other
stakeholders.
Strengthen the Medical Workforce: The growing demand for cancer specialists is expected to far outpace the
number of practicing oncologists in our health care system.6 At the same time, the nation’s demand for
primary care physicians, nurses and other health professionals will continue to increase as our population ages,
rates of chronic disease continue to rise, and more Americans gain access to preventive and chronic disease
health care services. The Obama-Biden plan will help our health care workforce grow by expanding funding
for loan repayment, adequate reimbursement, grants for training curricula, the Nurse Reinvestment Act of Title
VIII of the Public Health Act, and infrastructure support to improve working conditions. The Obama-Biden
plan to double cancer research funding will also help recruit and retain clinical researchers who specialize in
cancer by providing adequate funding for oncological study. In addition, investing in health information
technology and practice redesign will free up time of physicians and clinical personnel to care for patients, not
cater to insurance companies. And the Obama-Biden investment in cancer research will directly benefit our
nation’s cancer centers, which are at the front line in the effort to eradicate cancer and are largely responsible
for training the cancer workforce that will practice in the United States.
Support Advances in Personalized Medicine: Barack Obama has been a congressional leader in bringing
attention to the potential of genomics to improve treatment and develop cures for Americans with cancer.
Genomics is the study of gene structure and function, and researchers have started using genomics to increase
understanding of diseases and develop better diagnostic tools and treatments. As a Senator, Barack Obama
introduced the Genomics and Personalized Medicine Act to create an interagency task force on genomics
research, modernize FDA review of genomics tests and expand support to genomics researchers, including
funding and creation of a new mechanism to allow researchers across the country to access and analyze
genomics research. As president, Obama will continue to support advances in personalized medicine to help
ensure early detection and treatment of cancer and other diseases.
Provide New Supports to Cancer Survivors and their Families: Barack Obama and Joe Biden recognize
that the majority of individuals diagnosed with cancer live for over five years after diagnosis,7 and they will
implement a comprehensive agenda to support the unique needs of cancer survivors. Obama and Biden will
direct the CDC to develop and carry out an epidemiologic study on cancer survivors to understand their longterm
health needs. The Obama-Biden plan will also foster efforts to expand psychosocial supports to cancer
survivors, including directing the CDC to identify and replicate successful support group programs for cancer
survivors. Finally, the Obama-Biden plan will provide the CDC $50 million in new funding to determine the
most effective approaches that assist not only navigation of cancer patients through diagnosis and treatment
processes, but also provide easy-to-understand information on the necessary follow-up steps to ensure continued
lifelong health.
Identify Health Impacts of Environmental Factors: Barack Obama and Joe Biden believe it is critical to
understand the relationship between environmental factors and risk or onset of disease, particularly cancer.
They support the efforts of Senators Clinton and Hatch to expand CDC biomonitoring programs, and as
president, Obama will expand the collaboration between the CDC and state public health agencies across the
country to increase understanding and improve treatment of individuals negatively affected by environmental
factors.
Americans who have experienced cancer in their lifetime.1 Fighting cancer cost families and businesses $78
billion in medical costs last year, and the overall cost of cancer to our economy was estimated to be over $200
billion.2 Barack Obama understands firsthand the toll cancer takes on families – his mother died from ovarian
cancer in her early 50s and his grandfather battled prostate cancer. Barack Obama has spent his career fighting
to improve prevention and treatment of cancer. As an Illinois State Senator, Obama passed laws to mandate
insurance coverage of colorectal cancer examinations, ensure Medicaid coverage for treatment of breast and
cervical cancers, promote early detection of prostate and testicular cancers, and helped create the Illinois Task
Force on Cervical Cancer Elimination. As United States Senator, he has fought for increased funding for cancer
research, and championed genomics and personalized medicine to identify new and better treatments for cancer
and other diseases. As president, Barack Obama will build upon his career-long efforts and launch a new
campaign to combat cancer and provide greater lifetime support to cancer survivors and their families.
Double Funding for Cancer Research: The National Institutes of Health (NIH), National Cancer Institute
(NCI) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have made significant advances in understanding
cancer biology, and translating that knowledge into effective prevention programs, diagnostics, treatments and
cures. Notably, this knowledge has also benefited individuals with other diseases, such as autoimmune
disorders. Despite these advances, cancer funding has stagnated in recent federal budgets.3 Barack Obama and
Joe Biden are committed to reversing this trend, and providing our nation’s scientists with the resources they
need to expand and accelerate bench-to-bedside research that will lead to enhanced prevention and diagnostic
tools and innovative treatments. The Obama-Biden plan will double federal funding for cancer research within
5 years, focusing on NIH and NCI. Obama and Biden will also work with Congress to increase funding for the
Food and Drug Administration (FDA), an under-resourced agency that plays a critical role in ensuring that
advances in cancer research make a difference in the care of the millions of Americans who experience cancer.
And, their plan will provide additional funding for research on rare cancers and those without effective
treatment options; for the study of health disparities and evaluation of possible interventions; and efforts to
better understand genetic factors that can impact cancer onset and outcomes.
Ensure All Americans Have Affordable, Accessible and Quality Health Care: Individuals who lack health
insurance or are underinsured receive fewer preventive cancer screenings, have a greater likelihood of being
diagnosed with late stages of cancer, and experience poorer health outcomes than cancer patients who have
adequate insurance.4 The Obama-Biden administration will ensure affordable health coverage for all
Americans. His plan maintains patient choice, and establishes a National Health Insurance Exchange with a
range of private insurance options as well as a new public health plan to allow individuals and small businesses
to buy affordable and accessible health coverage similar to that available to federal employees. The Obama-
Biden health plan will provide tax credits to people so they can afford health care and will reduce the typical
family’s medical expenditures by $2,500 per year while providing them with more health care options and
greater security.
Ensure All Americans Have Access to Preventive Health Care: The Obama-Biden health plan will ensure
that all Americans have access to preventive health care services. Their proposal creates a voluntary national
pool, the National Health Insurance Exchange, comprised of a range of private plans and a new public plan.
These plans as well as all federally supported health plans, including Medicare, Medicaid and SCHIP, will be
required to cover all essential clinical preventive services with minimal or zero co-pays and deductibles. Under
the Obama-Biden plan, Medicaid co-pays for colorectal and breast cancer screenings will be eliminated, and
colorectal cancer screenings will be required in all group and individual health plans, for example. Obama and
Biden will also strengthen partnerships between federal, state and local public health authorities to expand
access to proven community-based prevention programs, extend prevention efforts into workplaces and schools,
and support federal initiatives, including the National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program
(NBCCEDP) that serves as a safety net for millions of women who would otherwise have no access to these
screenings. Finally, the Obama-Biden public health plan will expand investment in proven smoking cessation
programs and public education campaigns to raise awareness about tobacco-related cancer
End Insurance Discrimination: When cancer patients and cancer survivors change health insurance plans,
their new insurance companies currently have the ability to deny them insurance benefits because of their “preexisting”
condition. The Obama-Biden plan will end insurance company discrimination and guarantee that all
Americans – regardless of pre-existing conditions like cancer – will be able to purchase any private insurance
plan at an affordable and fair price. Barack Obama and Joe Biden are also proud of their longtime support of
the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act, a measure recently signed into law that will prevent insurance
companies from using information from genetic tests to restrict or deny coverage to individuals at risk from
cancer and other diseases.
Improve Access to Clinical Trials: Today, less than five percent of patients with cancer participate in clinical
trials,5 despite their importance in advancing cancer research and development of effective new treatments.
There are multiple reasons for low participation, including poor reimbursement for clinical research and a
growing shortage of clinical researchers. Barack Obama and Joe Biden will seek to increase participation in
clinical trials to 10 percent of adult cancer patients by requiring coverage of patient clinical trial costs in the
new public and private plans offered through the National Health Insurance Exchange, increasing NCI
reimbursement for patient participation in clinical research and requesting the NCI Director to identify
regulatory barriers that prevent the timely implementation and completion of successful clinical trials. Obama
and Biden will also enforce President Clinton’s 2000 Executive Memorandum that expanded Medicare
coverage to routine clinical trial costs, and reverse any successful attempts from the Bush Administration to
change this important safeguard for Medicare beneficiaries.
Support Evidence-Based Quality Improvement Interventions: The Obama-Biden health plan will improve
cancer outcomes by rewarding providers for achieving performance thresholds on outcome measures. Their
plan will require hospitals and providers to collect and publicly report measures of health care costs and quality,
including data on preventable medical errors, nurse staffing ratios, and hospital-acquired infections, so
individuals are able to compare providers. The Obama-Biden health care reform plan will also implement and
fund patient-centered programs, including patient navigator and medical home initiatives that help individuals
access and pursue comprehensive cancer treatment.
Improve Federal Coordination of Cancer Research, Treatment and Awareness Programs: The Obama-
Biden plan will maximize federal cancer funding by improving coordination both within the government and
across government/private/non-profit partnerships for research, treatment and awareness efforts. Currently,
several federal agencies are focused on different aspects of tackling cancer – NCI focuses on research, CDC on
cancer control, FDA on regulating cancer-related drugs, and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
(CMS) on paying for cancer-related care. Too often, efforts across these agencies are poorly coordinated,
leading to gaps in our national strategy to combat cancer. As president, Barack Obama will immediately direct
his Secretary of Health and Human Services, in collaboration with agency officials, academic researchers,
cancer survivors and advocates for people with cancer, and state public health officials, to comprehensively
examine the various cancer-related efforts of federal agencies, and provide recommendations to eliminate
barriers to effective coordination across federal agencies and between the federal government and other
stakeholders.
Strengthen the Medical Workforce: The growing demand for cancer specialists is expected to far outpace the
number of practicing oncologists in our health care system.6 At the same time, the nation’s demand for
primary care physicians, nurses and other health professionals will continue to increase as our population ages,
rates of chronic disease continue to rise, and more Americans gain access to preventive and chronic disease
health care services. The Obama-Biden plan will help our health care workforce grow by expanding funding
for loan repayment, adequate reimbursement, grants for training curricula, the Nurse Reinvestment Act of Title
VIII of the Public Health Act, and infrastructure support to improve working conditions. The Obama-Biden
plan to double cancer research funding will also help recruit and retain clinical researchers who specialize in
cancer by providing adequate funding for oncological study. In addition, investing in health information
technology and practice redesign will free up time of physicians and clinical personnel to care for patients, not
cater to insurance companies. And the Obama-Biden investment in cancer research will directly benefit our
nation’s cancer centers, which are at the front line in the effort to eradicate cancer and are largely responsible
for training the cancer workforce that will practice in the United States.
Support Advances in Personalized Medicine: Barack Obama has been a congressional leader in bringing
attention to the potential of genomics to improve treatment and develop cures for Americans with cancer.
Genomics is the study of gene structure and function, and researchers have started using genomics to increase
understanding of diseases and develop better diagnostic tools and treatments. As a Senator, Barack Obama
introduced the Genomics and Personalized Medicine Act to create an interagency task force on genomics
research, modernize FDA review of genomics tests and expand support to genomics researchers, including
funding and creation of a new mechanism to allow researchers across the country to access and analyze
genomics research. As president, Obama will continue to support advances in personalized medicine to help
ensure early detection and treatment of cancer and other diseases.
Provide New Supports to Cancer Survivors and their Families: Barack Obama and Joe Biden recognize
that the majority of individuals diagnosed with cancer live for over five years after diagnosis,7 and they will
implement a comprehensive agenda to support the unique needs of cancer survivors. Obama and Biden will
direct the CDC to develop and carry out an epidemiologic study on cancer survivors to understand their longterm
health needs. The Obama-Biden plan will also foster efforts to expand psychosocial supports to cancer
survivors, including directing the CDC to identify and replicate successful support group programs for cancer
survivors. Finally, the Obama-Biden plan will provide the CDC $50 million in new funding to determine the
most effective approaches that assist not only navigation of cancer patients through diagnosis and treatment
processes, but also provide easy-to-understand information on the necessary follow-up steps to ensure continued
lifelong health.
Identify Health Impacts of Environmental Factors: Barack Obama and Joe Biden believe it is critical to
understand the relationship between environmental factors and risk or onset of disease, particularly cancer.
They support the efforts of Senators Clinton and Hatch to expand CDC biomonitoring programs, and as
president, Obama will expand the collaboration between the CDC and state public health agencies across the
country to increase understanding and improve treatment of individuals negatively affected by environmental
factors.
Plan for a Healthy America
Barack Obama and Joe Biden's Plan
On health care reform, the American people are too often offered two extremes - government-run health care with higher taxes or letting the insurance companies operate without rules. Barack Obama and Joe Biden believe both of these extremes are wrong, and that’s why they’ve proposed a plan that strengthens employer coverage, makes insurance companies accountable and ensures patient choice of doctor and care without government interference.
The Obama-Biden plan provides affordable, accessible health care for all Americans, builds on the existing health care system, and uses existing providers, doctors and plans to implement the plan. Under the Obama-Biden plan, patients will be able to make health care decisions with their doctors, instead of being blocked by insurance company bureaucrats.
Under the plan, if you like your current health insurance, nothing changes, except your costs will go down by as much as $2,500 per year.
If you don’t have health insurance, you will have a choice of new, affordable health insurance options.
Make Health Insurance Work for People and Businesses - Not Just Insurance and Drug Companies.
Require insurance companies to cover pre-existing conditions so all Americans regardless of their health status or history can get comprehensive benefits at fair and stable premiums.
Create a new Small Business Health Tax Credit to help small businesses provide affordable health insurance to their employees.
Lower costs for businesses by covering a portion of the catastrophic health costs they pay in return for lower premiums for employees.
Prevent insurers from overcharging doctors for their malpractice insurance and invest in proven strategies to reduce preventable medical errors.
Make employer contributions more fair by requiring large employers that do not offer coverage or make a meaningful contribution to the cost of quality health coverage for their employees to contribute a percentage of payroll toward the costs of their employees health care.
Establish a National Health Insurance Exchange with a range of private insurance options as well as a new public plan based on benefits available to members of Congress that will allow individuals and small businesses to buy affordable health coverage.
Ensure everyone who needs it will receive a tax credit for their premiums.
Reduce Costs and Save a Typical American Family up to $2,500 as reforms phase in:
Lower drug costs by allowing the importation of safe medicines from other developed countries, increasing the use of generic drugs in public programs and taking on drug companies that block cheaper generic medicines from the market
Require hospitals to collect and report health care cost and quality data
Reduce the costs of catastrophic illnesses for employers and their employees.
Reform the insurance market to increase competition by taking on anticompetitive activity that drives up prices without improving quality of care.
The Obama-Biden plan will promote public health. It will require coverage of preventive services, including cancer screenings, and increase state and local preparedness for terrorist attacks and natural disasters.
A Commitment to Fiscal Responsibility: Barack Obama will pay for his $50 - $65 billion health care reform effort by rolling back the Bush tax cuts for Americans earning more than $250,000 per year and retaining the estate tax at its 2009 level.
On health care reform, the American people are too often offered two extremes - government-run health care with higher taxes or letting the insurance companies operate without rules. Barack Obama and Joe Biden believe both of these extremes are wrong, and that’s why they’ve proposed a plan that strengthens employer coverage, makes insurance companies accountable and ensures patient choice of doctor and care without government interference.
The Obama-Biden plan provides affordable, accessible health care for all Americans, builds on the existing health care system, and uses existing providers, doctors and plans to implement the plan. Under the Obama-Biden plan, patients will be able to make health care decisions with their doctors, instead of being blocked by insurance company bureaucrats.
Under the plan, if you like your current health insurance, nothing changes, except your costs will go down by as much as $2,500 per year.
If you don’t have health insurance, you will have a choice of new, affordable health insurance options.
Make Health Insurance Work for People and Businesses - Not Just Insurance and Drug Companies.
Require insurance companies to cover pre-existing conditions so all Americans regardless of their health status or history can get comprehensive benefits at fair and stable premiums.
Create a new Small Business Health Tax Credit to help small businesses provide affordable health insurance to their employees.
Lower costs for businesses by covering a portion of the catastrophic health costs they pay in return for lower premiums for employees.
Prevent insurers from overcharging doctors for their malpractice insurance and invest in proven strategies to reduce preventable medical errors.
Make employer contributions more fair by requiring large employers that do not offer coverage or make a meaningful contribution to the cost of quality health coverage for their employees to contribute a percentage of payroll toward the costs of their employees health care.
Establish a National Health Insurance Exchange with a range of private insurance options as well as a new public plan based on benefits available to members of Congress that will allow individuals and small businesses to buy affordable health coverage.
Ensure everyone who needs it will receive a tax credit for their premiums.
Reduce Costs and Save a Typical American Family up to $2,500 as reforms phase in:
Lower drug costs by allowing the importation of safe medicines from other developed countries, increasing the use of generic drugs in public programs and taking on drug companies that block cheaper generic medicines from the market
Require hospitals to collect and report health care cost and quality data
Reduce the costs of catastrophic illnesses for employers and their employees.
Reform the insurance market to increase competition by taking on anticompetitive activity that drives up prices without improving quality of care.
The Obama-Biden plan will promote public health. It will require coverage of preventive services, including cancer screenings, and increase state and local preparedness for terrorist attacks and natural disasters.
A Commitment to Fiscal Responsibility: Barack Obama will pay for his $50 - $65 billion health care reform effort by rolling back the Bush tax cuts for Americans earning more than $250,000 per year and retaining the estate tax at its 2009 level.
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