9 February 2004
The 2005 budget submitted to Congress last week includes far lower levels of funding for HIV/AIDS programs in Africa and globally than what is needed, and what was earlier promised by the President, according to Africa Action a lobby group for Africa.
Africa Action says the White House's request for next year includes only $2.8 billion for programs to fight HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria globally, with only a portion of this money going to Africa.
In his 2003 State of the Union address, President Bush had promised $3 billion per year on an emergency basis to fight HIV/AIDS in Africa and the Caribbean. Salih Booker, Executive Director of Africa Action, is reported as saying that, "Bush's budget request reveals the misplaced priorities of the current Administration.
AIDS represents the greatest threat to human security in the world today, but while the President requested more than $400 billion for military defense, he asked for less than 1% of this amount to fight the deadly global threat of HIV/AIDS."
Africa Action notes that the budget request also severely cuts funding for the Global Fund to fight HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria, a crucial vehicle to the fight against these diseases in poor countries, especially in Africa.
The President has asked for only $200 million for the Global Fund for 2005. This is considerably less than the $550 million that Congress appropriated for 2004, and less than the U.S. fair share for 2005.
Similarly, at the domestic level, the budget requests only a minor increase ($35 million) for the AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP), while ignoring the growing need for access to essential treatment and care, and for proven prevention programs.
Booker noted, "Instead of supporting the fight against HIV/AIDS here at home by increasing funding for effective prevention and treatment programs, the Bush Administration prioritizes the promotion of abstinence.
This supports the agenda of a narrow, conservative base, while rejecting the needs of those living with HIV/AIDS, and those most at risk."
Africa Action emphasizes that the 2005 budget fails to provide the necessary funding to support African efforts to fight HIV/AIDS and promote human development. The request for two new Bush Administration initiatives - the Global AIDS Initiative and the Millennium Challenge Account - include lower funding levels than originally promised by the President.
These initiatives also cover only a handful of African countries. Booker has noted that "The Bush Administration's selective approach to Africa blocks the emergence of a real and comprehensive response to the challenges of HIV/AIDS and poverty. Africa needs billions of dollars NOW to save lives and defeat AIDS.
Bush promised U.S. support, but instead his inadequate funding requestsand proposed cuts in essential child survival programs will cost millions of African lives next year."
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