Obama's HIV/AIDS Action Program Is Less Than Bush's

The Obama Administration is slowing down spending on HIV/AIDS, to where its commitment is below that of the Bush Administration, and a wave of criticism has burst out as the International AIDS Conference 2010 (IAC) starts in Vienna tomorrow.

The President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), started under Bush in 2003, and since then has provided $32.3 billion of U.S. funding towards provision of life-lengthening drugs for AIDS victims worldwide. But now, Obama has asked for barely an increase in the annual PEPFAR outlay for FY2011; and at the same time, is implementing an outright decrease of $50 million in the 2010 funding level for the Global Fund to Fight HIV/AIDS, TB and Malaria.

In the U.S., there are more than 2,300 of patients on the waiting list for Federal assistance for AIDS medications, but aren't getting help. Internationally, there at least 10 million people needing treatment, who aren't getting it. In Uganda, for example, PEPFAR dispensaries and clinics have been closing for lack of resources. An estimated 5 million people are receiving anti-AIDS drugs assistance, but maintaining this is now uncertain.

Dr. Ezekiel—EZ-Kill—Emanuel, Obama's health policy adviser, is in Vienna for pre-meetings to the IAC conference, trying to defend Obama against charges of retreat from fighting HIV/AIDS. Emanuel's theme is, "efficiency" with money, not to have more money. Emanuel said today, "We have to be more efficient. There is a moral obligation from the community (working on AIDS issues) not to just ask for more money, but to say, 'We have this pot of money, how are we going to do the most with it?'" He defended himself repeatedly in an interview today with medical writer John Donnelly, saying that the view "that somehow I am 'anti-HIV,' or 'anti-work-we-are-doing-on-HIV,' is absolutely wrong."

When Emanuel got up to speak Friday at a pre-conference panel, a group of six silent protesters stood up in front, with signs, calling for full funding, not excuses for using money better, e.g. for women and children, a current rationalization. "Fund AIDS Treatment, Save Women's Lives."

On Monday, Bill Gates, the globalist, depopulation guru, is scheduled to participate in IAC 2010, focussing on how to give up expensive dreams of anti-AIDS drugs, and instead ponder "prevention." Doing its part, today's Wall Street Urinal publicizes what they call promising HIV prevention practices: circumcision—including efficient assembly line procedures in Africa, and anti-HIV intercourse gels.