It’s no secret that the global economy’s near collapse in 2008 had a widespread effect. In addition to lay-offs and
LaShinda Clark/MCC
mortgage foreclosures, Wall Street’s tumble has had significant implications on funding for HIV/AIDS programs.
Until the economic crisis, funding for HIV/AIDS has steadily increased in recent years. This global allocation of resources has succeeded in declining AIDS deaths worldwide. Now, HIV/AIDS programs face significant funding slowdowns. Dr Tido von Schoen-Angerer of Doctor’s Without Borders aptly notes:
“After almost a decade of progress in rolling out AIDS treatment we have seen substantial improvements, both for patients and public health. But recent funding cuts mean doctors and nurses are being forced to turn HIV patients away from clinics as if we were back in the 1990s before treatment was available.”
This funding slowdown has caused some countries, including Tanzania, Uganda, Swaziland, and South Africa, to pull back planned services. According to the World Bank, over 1.7 million people could be at risk by the end of 2009.
PEPFAR (President’s Emergency Plan For AIDS Relief) and the Global Fund are two programs that have effectively produced results in treating and preventing the spread of HIV/AIDS. Consistent increases in funding and resources directly contributed to these successes. It is clear that further budget cuts will be a step backwards and that the United States needs to fulfill its promise to scale up funding for the fight against HIV/AIDS.
This is the first in a series of weekly blog posts leading up to World AIDS Day on December 1. Click here to learn more about MCC’s HIV/AIDS programming and here to learn more about HIV/AIDS policy.
