transcript

Read the transcript and see photos

This text below is a phonetic transcript of a radio story broadcast by PRI's THE WORLD. It has been created on deadline by a contractor for PRI. The transcript is included here to facilitate internet searches for audio content. Please report any transcribing errors to theworld@pri.org. This transcript may not be in its final form, and it may be updated. Please be aware that the authoritative record of material distributed by PRI's THE WORLD is the program audio.

As George Bush prepares to leave office an exceedingly unpopular president, he can point to at least one program that's received widespread praise. That's his effort to tackle AIDS in the developing world.

The President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief - or PEPFAR - began as a five-year, $15 billion program. Congress recently re-authorized the program for an additional five years and $48 billion. On this World AIDS Day, the President addressed a forum at Washington's Newseum. He spoke of how his program has brought hope to Africa.

More than two million people in Africa are now receiving life-saving AIDS drugs thanks to PEPFAR, according to the latest White House statistics. Coming up, we'll talk about the politics and future of PEPFAR. But first, we're going to take an extended look at the Herculean task America has taken on.

The World's David Baron has the story of what it takes to deliver AIDS medicine to just one patient in rural Africa.

Copyright ©2008 PRI's THE WORLD. All rights reserved. No quotes from the materials contained herein may be used in any media without attribution to PRI's THE WORLD. This transcript may not be reproduced, in whole or in part, without prior written permission. For further information, please email The World's Permissions Coordinator at theworld@pri.org.