AIDS advocates plan action

January 23, 2007

Advocates plan strategies to increase funds for fighting AIDS in 2007. Photo: K. McNeely/CWS

Advocates for increasing funding to fight AIDS met in Washington, D.C., recently to lay out strategies for 2007.

Faith-based organizations at the two-day meeting included American Jewish World Service, the Mennonite Central Committee, PanAfrican Christian AIDS Network and Church World Service.

Participants examined challenges advocates face as a new congress begins, and as the Bush administration finishes up its final two years. Non-governmental and faith based organizations defined action plans for AIDS advocacy to increase the number of health care workers in Africa, and to prepare for reauthorizing process of the U.S. Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief. The meeting was overshadowed by concerns about the Continuing Resolution and the possibility losing the funding increases the community had fought for and nearly won in 2006.

At the end of the 109th Congress, the 2007 appropriations bills were not completed. Congress is now faced with the task of finalizing the 2007 fiscal year appropriations through a year-long joint resolution – which will keep funding at the 2006 level, even though Senate and House leaders had voted on separate proposals to increase US funding to fight AIDS. Advocates began drafting a joint NGO letter urging Members of Congress to consider making global HIV/AIDS, TB and malaria programs a priority. The January 10 letter sent to Congress urged members to support the Senate-funding level of $4.36 billion for these programs, including:

• $3.42 billion for bilateral AIDS, TB and research programs,
• $700 million for the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria; and
• $234 million for bilateral malaria programs, including full funding for the President’s Malaria Initiative (PMI).

The President’s Emergency Plan for Relief (PEPFAR) would greatly be impacted by maintaining 2006 funding. As of September 30, 2006, the Emergency Plan has supported antiretroviral treatment for 822,000 people in the focus countries; provided HIV testing and counseling to 18.7 million people; and care to 4.5 million orphans and people living with HIV and AIDS. Maintaining 2006 funding levels would result in a loss of up to $700 million for PEPFAR programs and as a result, 280,000 fewer people would be put on treatment.

The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria is a second critical component of the US response in combating the globe’s three most deadly diseases. In just a few short years, the Global Fund has grown to now provide 20 percent of the world’s AIDS financing. As a result, 770,000 people are receiving life-saving AIDS medication, 2 million people have been treated for TB, and more than 18 million bed nets have been distributed to prevent children from getting malaria. For every $100 million taken away, the Global Fund will be limited from purchasing 630,000 bed nets to fight malaria; 50,000 treatments for malaria; 370,000 HIV tests; providing 11,000 people with AIDS treatment; and purchasing 80,000 treatments for TB.