Bush HIV/AIDS Initiative Welcome News, But Is the Devil in the Details?

February 11, 2003

Did President Bush go far enough and fast enough in his State of the Union to tackle the tragedy of HIV/AIDS in the world’s poorest countries? Or does his plan just raise more questions?

"President Bush’s promise to provide more money for the fight against HIV/AIDS should be applauded — but the devil could be in the details," says Amy Coen, President of Population Action International (PAI)

Will the Bush plan promote a truly comprehensive approach to fighting HIV/AIDS? An approach that includes treatment, care, support and prevention.

Will it advance universal access to condoms — and condom education — as an essential way to halt the spread of HIV?

Or will the President again, in the end, yield to the demands of America’s powerful anti-condom & anti-contraception extremists, and advocate abstinence as the only form of prevention.

"While we wait for full details of the Bush plan, time is running out for many in the developing world — where immediate access to more condoms and condom education would really count. This fight needs more resources, now. That’s today — not in a year from now as the President’s plan suggests," says Coen.

President Bush proposed an additional $10 billion, over the next five years, beginning in 2004, to help provide much-needed treatment and care for people living with AIDS — and some funds for prevention. Prevention is particularly important for young people who make up a full half of new HIV infections every year.

Population Action International’s report Condoms Count: Meeting the need in the era of HIV/AIDS, shows that at the very minimum, 8 billion condoms were needed in 2000 in the developing world and Eastern Europe to start having an impact on HIV levels. Yet donors provided only 950,000,000 condoms — an eighth of what was needed.

The 2002 report also shows that in places as diverse as Thailand and Senegal, aggressive condom & condom education and prevention campaigns have successfully slowed the spread of HIV.

"History is offering Mr. Bush a great opportunity. For the sake of the millions of people at risk of infection and those living with HIV/AIDS, let’s hope he doesn’t squander it," Coen said.

Population Action International (PAI) works to improve individual well-being and preserve global resources by mobilizing political and financial support for population, family planning and reproductive health policies and programs.