LCCR Honors Civil Rights Leaders: William J. Clinton
Feature Story by Tyler Lewis - 5/9/2007
AIDS patients in the developing world can now get one-a-day antiviral medication for $1 a day thanks to a deal brokered by President William J. Clinton's foundation.
"No company will live or die because of high price premiums for AIDS drugs in middle-income countries, but patients may," Clinton said to The Associated Press on May 8.
The Clinton Foundation's agreements with generic drug makers Cipla and Matrix Laboratories will save developing nations 25 percent (up to 50 percent for middle-income countries). An estimated half a million patients will require these drugs by 2010.
Since starting its HIV/AIDS Initiative in 2002, the Clinton Foundation has worked with 25 countries in Africa, the Caribbean and Asia to set up AIDS treatment and prevention programs. The foundation already provides access to lower-priced AIDS drugs in 65 countries.
Some 750,000 people are now receiving AIDS drugs purchased through the Clinton Foundation.
President Clinton's AIDS program is the latest achievement in a career of achievements that will be honored on May 10 at the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights' (LCCR) annual Hubert H. Humphrey Civil Rights Award Dinner.
"The Clinton Foundation works to solve some of our most pressing challenges of global interdependence," said LCCR President and CEO Wade Henderson. "Bill Clinton continues to play a crucial role in protecting and raising the profile of civil rights and human rights at home and abroad through the work of his Foundation and its initiatives."
Recently, President Clinton has expanded his foundation's poverty work with The Urban Enterprise Initiative by adding three new programs. The Urban Enterprise Initiative supports the expansion of opportunity and economic growth in urban communities by helping small businesses and entrepreneurs compete in the changing urban marketplace.
The Urban Enterprise Initiative has provided more than 50,000 hours of pro bono technical assistance to date.
LCCR's Civil Rights Award honors the legacy of former United States vice president, senator, and civil rights pioneer Hubert H. Humphrey, whose years of public service, leadership, and dedication to equal opportunity changed the face of America. Among his many achievements is his pivotal role in the passage of the landmark Civil Rights Act of 1964.
Awardees are selected based on their distinguished contributions to the advancement of civil and human rights. Previous recipients include Senator Edward Kennedy; Representative John Lewis; civil rights leader Julian Bond; disability rights advocate Justin Dart; and actor-activist Danny Glover.
Read about this year's other HHH honorees:
John Hope Franklin
L. Tammy Duckworth
