Advocacy in action: The role of health professionals in reauthorizing the US global AIDS program (PEPFAR)

In July 2008, the United States (US) government reauthorized the US global AIDS program (PEPFAR) – a triumph for global health and a demonstration of the unique and powerful voice of health professional advocates. Health professionals in the US, Uganda and Kenya joined a global coalition of activists who successfully advocated for a tripling of the US investment to $48 billion. Health professionals also helped to incorporate policy changes reflecting a scientific understanding of prevention and a repeal of the highly discriminatory HIV travel ban within the federal legislation. During the years of planning and negotiation that led to these improvements, Physicians for Human Rights (PHR) organized physicians, nurses, public health practitioners and other health activists to sign letters, make phone calls, write reports, speak at town meetings and public forums, testify in Congress and attend strategy summits to promote the best public health and human rights practices to fight HIV/AIDS. In the critical weeks of the reauthorization process, PHR organized thousands of health professionals who repeatedly called, wrote to and met with key lawmakers to provide them with essential evidence and first hand stories from the field, regarding the millions of lives saved by PEPFAR. Creating a health professional advocacy network is challenging, but the rewards, measured by both impact on global HIV/AIDS and the growth of a stronger civil society, are significant. Countries and organizations can replicate this effort using health professionals by identifying key health sector leaders and allies, planning trainings on advocacy and human rights, and generating country-specific advocacy actions. As governments are taxed to stem the losses in financial markets, health professional activists must remain vigilant in their advocacy to build upon success, support PEPFAR to its fullest extent authorized and ensure that donor governments uphold their commitments to global health.