Obama Will Keep Funding Commitment to PEPFAR
Amid concerns that the United States’ aid for combating AIDS has flatlined, U.S. Global AIDS Coordinator Eric Goosby is confident that his nation will “keep” its six-year commitment to provide USD63 billion in global health aid.
The Obama administration has increased the budget for the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief over the last two years, though by a small amount due to the recent economic crisis, Goosby explains. The U.S. has also improved the management of PEPFAR, leading to a drop in the cost of AIDS treatment by about two-thirds in the last 18 months, Goosby says, adding that the move allowed resources to be redirected into care, treatment and prevention services.
“It’s the intention of the Secretary and the President to increase funding for PEPFAR and the Global Health Initiative to keep up with the six-year commitment of USD63 billion over six years. And I’m confident that saving [an] economic rebound, we are definitely in a position where we will not delay or hold up the ability to place patients on antiretroviral therapy who need it in this interval,” Goosby said Aug. 10 in the State Department’s Conversations With America.
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