Obama, Bono, Alicia Keys on Campus for AIDS Event

President Obama speaking at GW's Jack Morton Auditorium

President Barack Obama introduced new goals for the worldwide fight against HIV and AIDS at the Jack Morton Auditorium Thursday morning as part of "The Beginning to End AIDS" event.

Reassuring those in the audience and those watching live via YouTube of the country's devotion to the worldwide fight, President Obama set a new target for the treatment of HIV and AIDS and further monetary contribution on World AIDS Day 2011. With an original goal to provide treatment to 4 million people, President Obama raised the number to 6 million and committed a $50 million increase towards the treatment for HIV and AIDS

President Obama urged the support of the global community. "Make a pledge" he said to those countries who have not yet committed, and for those who did commit, "Donate the money you promised."

He also called for countries like China, who were once receiving donations to fight HIV and AIDS, but are now in a position to give back, to switch roles at the global level.

"To all Americans, we got to keep fighting," Obama stated.

Other notable speakers such as former President George W. Bush, Senator Marco Rubio, R-Fla., and Congresswoman Barbara Lee, D-Calif., all resonated that where much is granted, much is expected.

"To whom much is given, much is required, " former President Bush said alongside President Jakaya Kikwete of Tanzania via satellite feed.

President Obama asked Congress to continue working together on this issue and put aside party lines. In a panel alongside singer Alicia Keys, co-founder and global ambassador of Keep a Child Alive, ONE cofounder and U2 frontman Bono and Senator Rubio stated, "Our example has been as much as a source of greatness as anything else."

Lindsay Maines, of Germantown, Maryland traveled to Kenya as part of ONE Moms, a group of American mothers who meet with other mothers in HIV-stricken countries.

"I took a picture of a mother and a father with their little two year old, and they said take this to your president and tell him thank you." Maines was "very proud" with President Obama's recommitment to the global fight on HIV.

Although tickets were not made available to GW students, some tickets were given to GW administrative offices, allowing a handful of students to enter the event. One of those students was junior Brian Steele who was reinvigorated by Thursday morning's event. "I signed up for the ONE campaign a while back, actually at a U2 concert, and I've done things for them like send emails. Like they said, I let it fall off so I hope to get involved again and be a part of this movement."

The event honored those who died from the disease, but took an optimistic look toward the future.

"We are going to win this fight, but this fight is not over, not by a long shot," said President Obama.

Dr. Patricia Nkansah-Asamoah, Alicia Keys, Bono and Senator Marco Rubio

To see more pictures from the event, head to the WRGW Twitter page.

-Jorge Gadala-Maria

The Sixth Annual World AIDS Day

Yesterday was World AIDS Day, an event designed to raise awareness about disease and those who suffer from it. Events were held all around the world, including South Africa, New York and right here in Washington D.C. There is even an event being held tonight in Ronald Reagan Building called "HIV Universal Access and Human Rights" it began at 5:30pm and is only open to Global Health Council members.

Of course, work to help those with HIV/AIDS continues throughout the year and during this World AIDS Day the Global Health Council highlighted the importance of fighting tuberculosis as well. Many AIDS patients are contract TB and they are very vulnerable to it. TB is often the disease that kills the patient after AIDS has weakened their immune system. This year's UNAIDS Report on The Global AIDS epidemic included a special section dedicated to documenting the relationship between HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis.