CNN | August 14, 2006
From A. Chris Gajilan

TORONTO, Canada -- Microsoft founder Bill Gates and former U.S. President Bill Clinton, leaders in worldwide anti-AIDS efforts, had praise Monday for President Bush's initiative, the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, known as PEPFAR, on the first full day of the 16th International AIDS Conference in Toronto.

"PEPFAR is a great success. ... Lives are being saved," Gates said.

PEPFAR, a $15 billion, five-year global initiative, has been the target of criticism because of its focus on abstinence programs. Congress requires that at least 33 percent of the money should be spent on abstinence-until-marriage programs.

Critics say there is little evidence that abstinence programs are as effective as other programs, such as condom-based prevention.

But Clinton said the program's positives outweigh the negatives.

"I think PEPFAR on balance has done a terrific amount of good," he said. "An abstinence-only program is going to fail. ... But it's a mistake to walk away from that message altogether."

He cited research showing abstinence programs delay the age of sexual activity, but do not necessarily decrease HIV transmission rates in the long run.

In a session lasting more than an hour, Clinton and Gates also answered audience questions regarding the efforts of their own organizations in the fight against HIV/AIDS and the future of the epidemic.

The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation has pledged half a billion dollars to fight the disease in poor countries, while the Clinton Foundation works directly with governments in 25 countries in HIV/AIDS testing, treatment and prevention and has brokered lower AIDS drug costs in almost 60 countries.

Monday's session was disrupted by protesters from Health Global Access Project, Student Global AIDS Campaign and ACT UP Philadelphia. Chanting and holding up signs, they called for more health workers in the fight against AIDS.