Press Release: Agreement with Norway on HIV/AIDS Treatment

Today President Clinton and Prime Minister Kjell Magne Bondevik signed a Memorandum of Understanding to support the implementation of integrated prevention, care and treatment programs in Mozambique and Tanzania, on the basis of partnerships with the Governments of both countries. The agreement is an extension of the commitment the Clinton HIV/AIDS Initiative and Government of Norway have each made to the fight against HIV/AIDS in these countries.

In 2002, President Clinton signed agreements with former Prime Minister Mocumbi of Mozambique and President Mkapa of Tanzania, committing the Clinton HIV/AIDS Initiative’s support for their countries’ efforts to combat the epidemic.

Since that time, the Clinton HIV/AIDS Initiative has provided substantial assistance to the development of strategic plans to provide high quality, comprehensive, integrated care and treatment services for people with HIV/AIDS. In both countries, they have been officially adopted as the national care and treatment plan.

Under today’s Memorandum of Understanding, the Clinton HIV/AIDS Initiative and Government of Norway will work together on implementing the national plans. Each brings important experience and expertise to the partnership, which will accelerate the pace at which patients living with HIV/AIDS in Mozambique and Tanzania receive high-quality care and treatment. Over the years, the Government of Norway has allocated considerable resources to fight the spread of HIV/AIDS. It provides both bilateral and multilateral assistance, supports activities where combating HIV/AIDS is the main or a secondary objective, and supports international research to develop a vaccine and a microbicide to prevent the disease.

Meeting with President Clinton in New York, Prime Minister Bondevik remarked, “I am impressed by President Clinton's dedication to the fight against HIV/AIDS. Millions of lives can be saved and great suffering alleviated by securing affordable treatment to the poor. I value the Norwegian partnership with the Clinton Foundation. Together we can achieve more, and I encourage others to join in a partnership with the Foundation.”

“I thank Prime Minister Bondevik for his steadfast leadership and commitment to combating HIV/AIDS in Mozambique and Tanzania, two countries that are priorities for my Foundation. Indeed, the Government of Norway is a leader in the fight against the epidemic throughout the developing world, and I am pleased to have them as partners in this vital effort,” President Clinton said.

The Clinton HIV/AIDS Initiative and Government of Norway are also collaborating in northwest Russia to organize technical exchanges between Russian, Norwegian and American experts and to help expand access to care and treatment. The first exchange will take place next week in Oslo.

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