Funding Cuts on Horizon for Global Health, AIDS

[cory777]

Source: IPS

WASHINGTON, Nov 17, 2010 (IPS) - Over the past several years, the number of people needing treatment for HIV/AIDS has risen, but so has the amount of funding for the treatment and prevention of the disease. The United States has been at the forefront of that funding, but with the new emphasis in Washington on reducing government spending that may be about to change.

Even though the U.S. lags behind many European countries in terms of global health contributions as a proportion of GDP, it remains the single largest funder of health assistance to developing countries.

This is why the new U.S. Congress that was elected earlier this month and will take office in January is somewhat concerning to global health advocates. Republicans will take control of the U.S. House of Representatives and have made it clear that reducing government spending in order to close the government's budget deficit will be a top priority.

This platform was laid out in September, when House Republicans made what they called a "Pledge to America". Among their proposals was reducing so-called non-security- related spending for fiscal year 2011 to fiscal year 2008 levels, meaning this spending would be 21.7 percent below what President Barack Obama has requested.

Read more: http://www.ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=53590

---

Activist News http://activistnews.blogspot.com/