Global HIV, AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria reauthorization

Children are being empowered through CWS' s Giving Hope Orphans and Vulnerable Children Program. Giving Hope is one of the many programs CWS helps fund and run for people affected by HIV/AIDS. Photo: Linda Robbins/CWS

February 12, 2008

In 2003, Congress passed the United States Leadership Against HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis (TB), and Malaria Act, also known as the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR). It authorized $15 billion, over five years, to provide assistance to foreign countries to combat HIV, AIDS, TB and Malaria. Funding for PEPFAR ends October 1, 2008. To ensure the continuation of this act the House of Representatives has drafted a reauthorization bill, The Global HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria Reauthorization Act of 2008.

In President George W. Bush’s final State of the Union address he called for $30 billion to fund for HIV and AIDS. However, $30 billion is not enough. The new bill calls for at least $50 billion to continue HIV, AIDS, TB and Malaria program funding.*

The proposed funding would go towards: assisting Orphans and Vulnerable Children (OVC), building stronger health care systems, increasing the capacity of health care workers, giving refugees more resources to combat and treat these illnesses and many more provisions which will ensure proper prevention, care and treatment. The bill also calls for a repeal of the U.S. travel ban for those with HIV and AIDS.

The United States, thus far, has given the largest amount of funding for HIV and AIDS, TB and Malaria programs. This bill would continue the commitment made to people worldwide, living with these illnesses.

Church World Service funds and operates HIV and AIDS programs for OVC and refugees throughout the world. The grants PEPFAR administers are vital to ending to these epidemics.

The bill is said to be a “legacy bill” for both President Bush, as he is in the last year of his presidency, and for House Foreign Affairs committee chair Representative Tom Lantos, a Holocaust survivor and a long-time champion of human rights, who died on February 11. Lantos was a longstanding supporter in the fight against HIV and AIDS.

The focus must now be on the people who will be adversely affected if this bill is not reauthorized. HIV, AIDS, TB, and Malaria sufferers’ right to live with dignity must be realized; this bill is an opportunity to actualize their rights. Be a part of the opportunity. Check out CWS’s Speak Out section http://capwiz.com/churchworld/home/ for actions you can take to make sure this bill is passed.

* This number is based on the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/ AIDS (UNAIDS) September 26, 2007 report Financial Resources Required to Ahieve Universal Access to HIV Prevention, Treatment, Care and Support.