Access To Life
(Paolo Pellegrin, Magnum Photos)
The Corcoran Gallery of Art is hosting a new photo exhibit -- Access to Life -- chronicling the benefits of free antiretroviral medication for AIDS patients around the world. The project, a collaboration between Magnum Photos and the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, documents the benefits of treatment for more than 30 individuals and their families in nine countries: India, Haiti, Mali, Peru, Russia, Rwanda, South Africa, Swaziland and Vietnam. Magnum dispatched an international team of eight well-known photographers to tell these important stories.
On hand for the exhibit rollout last night in Washington were, among others: former UN Secretary General Kofi Annan, Sen. Pat Leahy (D-VT), Rep. Nita Lowey (D-NY) and world-reknowned musician Youssou N’Dour.
"It's a longterm struggle," Annan told a crowd of reporters, activists, photogs and more gathered last night at the A.W. Mellon Auditorium in Washington. "We should all stay in it."
The exhibit, an effective and deeply moving call for continued public funding to combat these diseases, will run from June 14 to July 20. Take an afternoon break from the mayhem of the political season to see it.
(JENNIFER SKALKA)
Great to see that the Global Fund's work is coming to the US. I hope Americans will realize through these photos how amazing and LIFE SAVinG their contribution is.