Birx Vows to Continue Practice of Good Public Health, No Matter the Context

In her first statement since assuming the role of U.S. Global AIDS Coordinator, Debbie Birx said her administration will continue to practice good public health by championing the rights and health of individuals living with HIV, no matter how challenging the conditions.

“PEPFAR has never been deterred from continuing to do all we can to support comprehensive, non-discriminatory HIV services for all individuals, and we will not back down now,” Birx said.

“As public health practitioners, our core ethical responsibility is to the people whom we serve – whether they live in Kampala, Cape Town, or the Caribbean – and this holds true even when we may disagree with host government policies that are at odds with sound science or good public health.”

As the U.S. Global AIDS Coordinator, Birx heads the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) and is tasked with leading all of the U.S. government’s international AIDS efforts. 

“PEPFAR is one of the greatest expressions of American compassion, ingenuity, and shared humanity in our nation’s rich history,” Birx said. “As we march on together toward achieving an AIDS-free generation, PEPFAR will remain committed to our foundational principles of sound science, focusing on impact, good public health, and a rights-based approach.”

The Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation (EGPAF) partners with PEPFAR to provide lifesaving HIV prevention, care and treatment, around the world. Together, we will continue our work until we see the end of AIDS in children.

You can read the full text of Birx’s statement here.