April 27, 2009

Financial Crisis Threatens HIV Treatment for 1.7 Million People

The global economic crisis may interrupt HIV treatment for 1.7 million people living with the virus, according to a World Bank analysis released April 24 and reported on by the Financial Times.

According to the article, the World Bank survey of 69 of the world’s lowest-income countries showed that 15 of them believed they were “highly exposed” to the risk of being unable to continue government-funded antiretroviral treatment programs because of a lack of internal and external resources.

“This new report shows that people with AIDS could be in danger of losing their place in the lifeboat,” said Joy Phumaphi, the World Bank’s vice president for human development and the former health minister of Botswana. “The global economic downturn has taken a wrecking ball to growth and development in the developing world.”

In addition, 34 countries surveyed—which account for three quarters of all people living with HIV—said that the flagging global economy will hamper HIV prevention for high-risk groups.

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Edwin Causer, Ebensburg, 2009-04-28 15:29:47
Those of us living in rural communities are very concerned with the lack of coverage of Part B services. Ryan White is up for renewal this year with a built in sunset if nothing is passed. We are currently facing a continued drop in funding in my county, Cambria PA. The Coalitions budget will be set in stone by July 1, 2009 and funding decisions made in Washington this year may not address this issue for two years (The next funding cycle).

Ed Causer, Ebensburg, 2009-04-28 15:25:31
We have many articles concerning world AIDS issues while rural communities are seeing our Ryan White Title II (Part B) funding being drastically cut. Where is the coverage on the loss of services in the United States.

Anthony, Fort Lauderdale, 2009-04-28 14:35:11
I have been poz for 14 years and my partner for 23. Without government assistance with medications and doctor costs, we would be dead. It scares me to think that we as a caring world would allow this. There are too many people dying still because it is not available. We need to come together and solve this crisis.