BANGOR, Maine (WABI) – More than 30 local faith leaders have voiced their support for the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, otherwise known as PEPFAR.
This comes after the organization faced funding cuts from the Trump Administration.
Senator Susan Collins has been an advocate to restore those funds, and local faith leaders took a moment to not only thank her but to discuss how they’re involved in the global fight against HIV/AIDS.
The PEPFAR program was launched in 2003 by former President George W. Bush and has saved 25 million lives, according to the government’s website.
Churches and ministries have been involved in delivering care to those in need across the globe and even here in our backyard.
Barbara Ford, executive director of Godparent Home ministries in Bangor, shared how PEPFAR closely impacts Penobscot County and the work she is a part of.
“Our program has seen an increase of international residents over the past five years serving women from Congo, Ghana, Vietnam, Haiti, China and the Philippines,” said Ford.
“We serve women in crisis, pregnant or parenting. PEPFAR has enabled eight-million babies to be born free of HIV to mothers living with HIV.”
Rev. Danny Thomas also discussed how he founded a company called Water for the World NLA.
He said he and his team are on the frontlines in 85 countries to make diseased water clean.
He explained how this coincides with PEPFAR.
“It makes a world of difference,” said Rev. Thomas.
“If I can take a mother that’s infected with AIDS and give her just clean water, we can elongate her life seven years. What’s seven years? Seven years is the time that she can raise her children before the disease overtakes her life. That is everything.”
At the end of the conference, a letter was signed by those present to express their gratitude to Senator Collins, but it was acknowledged the work is not done.
As previously reported by WABI, the Trump Administration reversed its decision to cut $400 million from PEPFAR.
However, the administration is now withholding billions earmarked for the program.
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