A New York Times (nytimes.com, 6/21) editorial published on June 21 criticizes the seven Republican senators—led by Tom Coburn of Oklahoma—who are delaying passage of a bill that would reauthorize the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief.
“If their delaying tactics succeed, the United States will lose considerable leverage in trying to persuade other advanced nations to contribute substantially more money to fight against global disease at the upcoming meeting of the Group of 8 industrial nations,” the editorial says. “That will undermine the Bush administration’s leadership in combating the global scourge of AIDS.” The G-8 summit will be held in July.
According to the piece, Coburn and other PEPFAR critics deem the $50 billion reauthorization of the plan over the next five years irresponsible. They are fighting to preserve a previous stipulation that required 55 percent of AIDS funding to be spent on treatment as opposed to prevention—which would include condom distribution and circumcision—and other services.
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DM, Ventura County-CA, 2008-06-24 18:01:05
I still beleive USA sends enough out of our country and we now need to stop cutting our programs here in the USA and add more services, prevention etc for our citizens here as #1 focus!!! lets treat, prevent and aide our countrys polulation 1ST and show others how it is done. Then maybe send additional funds outside the USA. Crap we cant even get ADAP to those in need, or access to doctors and hospitals for correct/timely care and treatment. Why kill our countrys population to save outsiders??
Paolo Preston, Tucson, 2008-06-24 11:17:40
Senator Tom Coburn has a history of failing to understand the value of HIV prevention work. His and some of his fellow senators efforts will do nothing more than to hobble the intent of this bill. Once again we will appear to the rest of the world to practice bafoonery instead of science and common sense.
Beth Benne, RN, is HIV negative, but
the virus has impacted her life. She currently supervises a biannual HIV/AIDS awareness week as
the director of the student health center at Pierce College, a
community commuter school in Woodland Hills, California.
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Overheard in the Women's Forum
"I recently met a guy who is negative. I did tell him about my status and he decided to kiss me anyway (we didn't go further than that). But a day later, he called and said that he actually had a mouth ulcer that time when we kissed and he was very worried. Asked if he can get the virus from me that way. For that moment, I felt so insulted and yet I felt so bad. It was my first time having a contact with a "negative" guy."
