PHILADELPHIA -- President George W. Bush made his latest visit to Philadelphia on Wednesday.
This was his 29th trip to Pennsylvania since he took office. His departure ended a whirlwind visit that combined a major policy statement on AIDS with political fund-raising.
Wednesday afternoon, Bush attended a fund-raiser at a private home in Villanova, Pa.
In the morning, Bush stopped in north Philadelphia where he announced an additional $20 million for a program that delivers medication to AIDS patients.
Flanked by an entourage of security and press, Bush's motorcade pulled up to the building that houses People for People, Inc., a faith-based organization which, among other things, provides AIDS outreach programs to people in Africa. It was an ideal platform for Bush, the candidate, to sell his AIDS program.
"For many AIDS patients -- especially those who live in low-income areas or rural areas -- a local church program or community health center is their own source for treatment and support," Bush said.
Bush said his plan would help HIV and AIDS patients by focusing on better treatment, prevention and finding a cure. He said that, as of Wednesday, the government would provide $20 million to give life-saving support to the sickest patients.
The administration also announced it was making Vietnam the 15th country in its $15 billion plan to fight AIDS. While India and other countries have larger populations with AIDS or HIV, the virus that causes the disease, the administration opted to add Vietnam to its global AIDS focus because it was on the brink of an AIDS epidemic, with cases predicted to rise from 130,000 currently to 1 million by 2010, officials said.
Vietnam is the first country outside Africa and the Caribbean to be included in the five-year AIDS fighting plan that Bush unveiled in 2003.
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"We will confront the disease abroad, and we will confront it here at home, as well," Bush told the crowd.
However, while the president was making his remarks to the People for People organization, dozens of protestors had gathered across the street to spread their own message. The members of ACT UP, an HIV awareness group, held a rally. They contended that Bush is not doing enough for AIDS patients and that his remarks Wednesday were simply political posturing.
"This administration is refusing to pick up the tools that are needed to win this war," one protestor shouted to the crowd.
The protestors said they hope Bush's promises of impending relief today don't fade after the election.
Copyright 2004 by NBC10.com The Associated Press contributed to this report. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
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