WASHINGTON (AP) -- President Barack Obama set an ambitious goal Thursday for significantly increasing access to life-saving AIDS drugs for people in the U.S. and around the world, as he announced a renewed American commitment to ending a pandemic that has killed 30 million people.
"We can beat this disease," Obama declared during a World AIDS Day event in Washington. Former Presidents George W. Bush and Bill Clinton also participated via satellite.
Obama pledged U.S. support to help 6 million people in countries hardest hit by the virus get access to antiretroviral drugs by the end of 2013, increasing the original U.S. goal by 2 million. And he announced plans to boost spending on HIV treatment in the U.S. by $50 million. (27 images)
"We can beat this disease," Obama declared during a World AIDS Day event in Washington. Former Presidents George W. Bush and Bill Clinton also participated via satellite.
Obama pledged U.S. support to help 6 million people in countries hardest hit by the virus get access to antiretroviral drugs by the end of 2013, increasing the original U.S. goal by 2 million. And he announced plans to boost spending on HIV treatment in the U.S. by $50 million. (27 images)
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Primary school students present giant and small red ribbons during an event on the eve of the World AIDS Day in Wuyuan, in southern China's Jiangxi province Wednesday, Nov. 30, 2011. China will have about 780,000 people infected with the AIDS virus by the end of this year, state media reported Wednesday, with most having contracted it through heterosexual sex. AP / Color China Photo
A group of nurses attend an AIDS awareness event held by local community on the International AIDS Day Thursday, Dec. 1, 2011 in Shanghai, China. AP / Eugene Hoshiko
Students prepare red ribbons for an AIDS themed art exhibition at a college in Suining, in southwestern China's Sichuan province, Wednesday, Nov. 30, 2011. AP / China Topix
Nurses prepare to wear the red ribbons, the HIV/AIDS awareness symbol, during an activity to raise public awareness of HIV/AIDS prevention in southwest China's Chongqing Municipality on Thursday, Dec. 1, 2011. ZUMA24.com / Li Jian
A volunteer and a HIV infected person set up a heart-shaped gesture holding a red banner in Hengyang, China on Tuesday, Nov. 29, 2011. ZUMA24.com / Cao Zhengping
High school students wear face masks bearing red banners during an HIV prevention campaign in Jinan, Shandong, China on Tuesday, Nov. 29, 2011. ZUMA24.com / Lv Chuanquan
A woman attaches a condom on the board during an AIDS awareness campaign to increase awareness of the sexually-transmitted fatal disease in Seoul, South Korea, Thursday, Dec. 1, 2011. AP / Lee Jin-man
A volunteer worker in a costume featuring a condom poses with other volunteers during an AIDS awareness campaign to increase awareness of the sexually-transmitted fatal disease in Seoul, South Korea, Thursday, Dec. 1, 2011. AP / Lee Jin-man
A man walks past huge red ribbons symbolizing AIDS awareness that hangs from the walls of the Regional Headquarters of the World Health Organization in Manila, Philippines in the global commemoration of World AIDS Day Thursday, Dec. 1, 2011. AP / Bullit Marquez
An Indian college student is dressed up in costume during an event on the eve of World AIDS Day in Jammu, India, Wednesday, Nov. 30, 2011. More than 2 million people in India suffer from HIV/AIDS. AP / Channi Anand
An Indian sex worker plays with a child during a World AIDS Day function in a red light area in Mumbai, India, Thursday, Dec. 1, 2011. The World Health Organization established World AIDS Day in 1988 to further global awareness and put a focus on prevention. AP / Rafiq Maqbool
Nepalese people light candles in the shape of the red ribbon, the universal symbol of awareness and support for those living with HIV, in Katmandu, Nepal, Wednesday Nov. 30, 2011. AP / Niranjan Shrestha
A Nepalese child lights candles in front of a painting that depicts the Nepal map with a red ribbon, at an event to mark World AIDS Day in Katmandu, Nepal, Thursday, Dec. 1, 2011. AP / Niranjan Shrestha
Lahore, Pakistan - People light candles to mark World AIDS Day on Dec. 1, 2011 in Lahore, Pakistan. According to the National Aids Control Program, about 100,000 Pakistanis are living with Aids. ZUMA24.com / Sajjad
Dec. 1, 2011 - Istanbul, Turkey - A child looks on in front of a banner during a street march to mark World AIDS Day on Dec. 1, 2011 in Istanbul, Turkey. ZUMA24.com / Ma Yan
Nimrod plays on the swings during playtime at the Nyumbani Children's Home for children with HIV, in Karen on the outskirts of Nairobi, Kenya, Wednesday, Nov. 30, 2011. The orphanage, which is heavily reliant on foreign donations, cares for over 100 children with HIV whose parents died of the disease and provides them with housing, care, and antiretroviral medicine to stem the progress of the disease. AP / Ben Curtis
Fireworks burst behind the Sydney Opera House that is bathed in red light with a figure of two hands in Sydney, Australia, Wednesday, Nov. 30, 2011, as part of a global campaign to create an AIDS-free generation by 2015. Over 50 landmarks and iconic monuments around the world will turn red on Dec. 1, in support of the campaign. AP / Rick Rycroft
Candles are lit for Danish victims of HIV/AIDS to mark World AIDS day at Nytorv, Copenhagen, Thursday, Dec. 1, 2011. AP / Martin Bubandt
A man displays condoms marking the International AIDS day in capital Pristina, Kosovo on Thursday, Dec. 1, 2011. AP / VISAR KRYEZIU
Romanian medical students dance during a flash mob event to raise awareness to the risk of being infected with the HIV virus, at the main railway station in Bucharest, Romania, Wednesday, Nov. 30, 2011, one day ahead of World AIDS Day on Dec. 1. AP / Vadim Ghirda
Romanian youths hold hands during a flash mob held to raise awareness of the risk of being infected with the HIV virus, ahead of World AIDS Day on Dec. 1, Bucharest, Romania, Tuesday, Nov. 29, 2011. AP / Vadim Ghirda
Visitors watch the exhibition ''Sounds of my Life'' by Ireland's artist Bryan McCormack at the Georges Pompidou art center on Wednesday, Nov. 30, 2011 in Paris, France. The exhibition shows 80,000 colored plastic condoms on all floors of Georges Pompidou Center as part of a campaign to fight against AIDS. ZUMA24.com / Gao Jing
Pins designed as red ribbons will be presented at the 17th Annual Opera Gala for the German AIDS foundation on Dec. 1, 2011 in Berlin, German. ZUMA24.com / Jens Kalaene
Candles are seen in Wittenbergplatz square during an event to show love and care for HIV and AIDS carriers on Nov. 30, 2011. ZUMA24.com / Ma Ning
Shelly McGee holds a bundle of red balloons to be released in recognition of those diagnosed with AIDS during a memorial put together by Chattanooga Cares and Greater Than at the University of Tennessee in Chattanooga, Tenn. on Nov. 30, 2011. Chattanooga Times Free Press / Jenna Walker
President Barack Obama makes remarks on World AIDS Day, Thursday, Dec. 1, 2011, at George Washington University in Washington. AP / Evan Vucci
A red ribbon is displayed on the North Portico of the White House, Wednesday, Nov. 30, 2011, in Washington, D. C. AP / Haraz N. Ghanbari
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