In his final State of the Union address on January 28, President Bush will unveil a proposal to double U.S. funding from $15 billion to $30 billion to fight HIV/AIDS overseas, reports USA TODAY (usatoday.com, 1/24).
The proposed $30 billion budget for the president's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) would provide treatment for approximately 2.5 million people living with HIV and fund preventive measures for about 12 million others over the course of five years. The PEPFAR program, approved by Congress in 2003, currently serves 15 countries in the Caribbean, Asia and sub-Saharan Africa. A recent editorial in The New York Times suggested that PEPFAR “may be the most lasting bipartisan accomplishment of the Bush presidency.”
“Our compassion should be manifested in helping people who suffer from disease and hunger,” said President Bush. “We have a strategy that's working. It is to support a strategy that has made a difference in over a million people's lives in a relatively quick period of time.”
President Bush, who will travel to Africa next month for a six-day trip, says his final address will also introduce a “new idea” to address hunger and expand a current initiative to curb malaria in the developing world.
NEW! Scroll down to comment on this story.
Please click OK to confirm your comment and confirm you accept our posting rules. Note your message will be reviewed by our staff before going live.
las vegan, las vegas, 2008-01-31 20:27:20
I think the 30 billion for aids in other countries would be great if we were addressing aids in our own country. Since we are not, particularly in the south,It is hypocritical and demeaning to our own citizens.
Stephen, San Diego, 2008-01-31 12:37:52
I have mixed feeling when readying about this program. I am not a heartless person and do feel one should always help others and show compassion. That being said, however, There is still so much hunger, homelessness and HIV in our own country that I'm not sure is being taken care of effectively. I know it may sound selfish but why don't we take care of our own first. As an HIV person, it pains me everytime I hear of more and more cut backs in aid for underprivledged American HIV patients
EMMANUEL UMENYI, IMO STATE NIGERIA., 2008-01-31 04:53:49
DEAR SIR,I'M VERY HAPPY FOR YOUR CONSINE ON US AFRICANS LIVEING WITH HIV/AIDS.I'M POSITIVE SINCE 1993.BUT ONE THING WITH WE AFRICANS IS THAT SOME OF US LOVE MONEY MORE THAN THERE BROTHERS LIFE,A LOT MONEY FROM PEPFAR GOES TO WRONG HANDS HERE IN AFRICA THEY USE IT FOR LUXSRY LIFE LIVEING WE WITH HIV/AIDS DIE IN PAIN.MANY OF THEM WERE HIV POSITIVE SO THEY DO NOT KNOW THE PAIN THEY CANT EVEN SPREAD THE NEWS FOR IN MY STATE FIFTY PASENT WHERE IGNORANCE OF HIV/AIDS IN MY TOWN THEY DIE DAIL
mr skipa, maseru, lesotho., 2008-01-30 14:05:31
That is very generous of him, and I graciously wish to congratulate him on behalf of my fellow Africans. The tragedies caused by this pandemic in our African countires seriously need good samaritans to donate drugs associated with good diet. It really is shocking if one could come across statistics of people in tertiaries infected and affected by the scourge.Thank you Americans we are indebted to you.
stacy, , 2008-01-30 11:31:57
im glad for any funding, but what about those of us who are not 'overseas'? im tired of being thrown to the bottom of the pile in my own country....
Donnie, Seattle, 2008-01-30 05:08:55
thank you! why can't he put that money towards the people with hiv.aids here in the united states?
i can answer that!he is going to Africa, so he has to look good for them, and giving money to them is his way to do that.
how kind of im-LOL!
Donnie, Seattle, 2008-01-30 05:04:52
that was very timely of him.
he just wants everyone to think he is doing some good for the country before he leaves office.
if he wasn't traveling to Africa, he would not have given up the money for hiv/aids.
Dawn M., Simi Valley, CA, 2008-01-30 01:04:24
Why are we sending money to other countries and not keeping most of it here in the United States!!!! our citizens are dying due to lack of access to health care and medications. Let the other countries take care of their own. We can send some money but come on USA should come first!!!! sad in Simi-CA
John Sholly, Grass Valley, CA, 2008-01-29 18:46:23
What about funding here? Our program is being slashed another 10% We serve 50 HIV/AIDS folks here in Nevada County, CA. Our budget has been cut so much that our HOPWA funding which is badly needed is threatening homelessness for some of our clients. Helping the world with HIV/AIDS is great, but someone needs to look at whats happening here. I am a benefits counselor for people with HIV/AIDS and I would hate to see our program ended because of cuts in funding. We are suffering her in the US
Cody, Orlando, Florida, 2008-01-29 17:58:32
get him out of office before he sends our doctors to another country and leaves us to treat each other!
Rev. Deno Irby, Gulfport, 2008-01-29 17:38:01
How dare he. That pisses me off. Let him raise a family on what I get a month. I am sure he would buckle. If those countries don't give a crap for their own why should we have to cover the bulk of their treatment. Believe me I don't think anyone should have to suffer from AIDS when there is medications available to treat it. I have been at deaths door numerous times so I don't wish it on anyone but this is American tax payers money so shouldn't we get more here in America?
Dee, San Francisco, 2008-01-29 16:32:05
I think that is GREAT that Bush is raising the AID to 30 billion. It should be 1 Trillion actually, it's way more important to address hiv infection, treatment and find a vaccine than WAR in Iraq for oil. Lets remind some cynics that researchs shows that lots of americans love to travel around the world doing bb sex and acting like nothing is hepening. On top of that I am not sure if some people here know that one pill of efavirens in Africa cost $2.00 and a patient needs 30/month.Protect you!
Edmund, Jamaica, NY, 2008-01-29 14:42:22
How dare President Bush allocate double monies to those in other countries. He is helping others by cutting our aid. How can you help others when your own need help? When the French told Marie Antionnette there was no bread she replied with, "Then let them eat cake." And what did that get her? Pres. Bush is no different. Diplomatic relations my a**! At what cost? MINE? Besides, I do not like cake!
Amy, , 2008-01-29 14:33:46
I agree with everyone else. When will this country help its own citizens? The US donates money to other countries for everything from poverty to health care while so many suffer here. Why aren't the complaints of voters being heard? What can we do to make them heard?
Russ, Asheville, 2008-01-29 14:14:29
Well isn't that just wonderful. The want to be Dictator, (Bush) is doubling the U.S. proposal from 15 billion to 30 billion dollars to fight HIV/AIDS overseas while funding is being cut and HIV/AIDS health care is so expensive, it makes it nearly impossible to get for thousands of American citizens. This country is in a sad state of affairs. We can only hope the next administation will begin putting Americans first.
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.
Woman of the Month is supported by exclusive advertising from Gilead.
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."
