The Obama Administration’s Commitment to the Fight Against Global AIDS

By Ambassador Eric Goosby, U.S. Global AIDS Coordinator

Ambassador Goosby is welcomed by representatives from the Infectious Diseases Institute at Makerere University in Kampala, Uganda.

On February 1, the Obama Administration released the FY2011 federal budget request. This request reflects the continued strong commitment of the U.S. Government to the fight against global AIDS. It is a central piece of the foreign policy and global health agenda outlined by President Barack Obama and Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton.

I’ve been working in HIV/AIDS for 25 years, both domestically and internationally. I can remember the days before the launch of the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR). At that time, in most of the sub-Saharan African countries that we’re engaged in now, patients were two to a bed, put under the bed, on the floors, and in the hallways, waiting for treatments that basically weren’t available.

President's Budget for HIV/AIDS at HHS

By Miguel Gomez

The President’s budget was released this week with an investment of more than $3 billion at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) for HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment activities to expand access to affordable healthcare and prevention services. (GPOAccesss.gov (PDF 324 KB), retrieved 2/1/10). According to the HHS Budget in Brief, this increase includes $31 million for CDC to integrate surveillance and monitoring systems, address high-risk populations, and support HIV/AIDS coordination and service integration with other infectious diseases. It also includes $40 million for HRSA’s Ryan White Program to expand access to care for underserved populations, provide life-saving drugs, and improve the quality of life for people living with HIV/AIDS. HHS domestic HIV/AIDS spending this fiscal year is estimated to be nearly $15.9 billion. The budget also focuses on HIV testing among high-risk groups, including men who have sex with men, African Americans, and Hispanics.

The President is committed to finding more effective ways to use those resources to prevent the transmission of HIV, to treat those who are living with it, and—in time—to find a vaccine and a cure. At this week’s PACHA Meeting, Secretary Sebelius reinforced that we are fortunate to have decisive leadership and a commitment from President Obama on responding to HIV/AIDS in the U.S. And at AIDS.gov we continue to support the President’s top priorities: Reducing HIV incidence; Increasing access to care and optimizing health outcomes; and Reducing HIV-related health disparities.

Next week we will provide details on the President’s budget as it relates to the Presidents Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR).