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World Vision Welcomes Bush Global AIDS Funding Request
At least 10 percent must reach orphans, affected children, says World Vision
May 31, 2007
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Hilda, 9, is an orphan and living with HIV in Tanzania. She is cared for by a 66-year-old widow, Theresa. President Bush's propsal would broaden care to reach some 5 million orphans and vulnerable children, like Hilda.
[(c) April 2007/Nigel Marsh/World Vision]
World Vision commends President George W. Bush’s proposal that Congress double funding to fight AIDS globally to $30 billion over five years. Bush announced the plan today, a week before meeting with other leaders at the annual G8 summit.
Global AIDS Funds to Double in Next Five Years
“This vital leadership will help vulnerable nations fight the AIDS pandemic and will save millions of lives,” said Robert Zachritz, World Vision’s senior policy advisor for global development. “President Bush should be commended for his announcement today to double global AIDS funding and make children a priority over the next five years.”
“We now need to ensure an adequate portion of funding goes to the needs of children made vulnerable or orphaned by the pandemic, and that this initiative doesn’t reduce funding for ongoing humanitarian development programs,” Zachritz said. “We urge Congress to courageously move this proposal forward.”
G8 Meets Next Week
The announcement is a step on the way to meeting commitments that the Group of Eight leading nations made at the 2005 summit at Gleneagles. The U.S. and other G8 nations will hold their annual meeting next week in Germany, and must make these goals a priority in order to keep their promises to ensure all countries can prevent the spread of HIV and care for those affected.
The proposal would broaden care to reach 5 million orphans and vulnerable children, up from 4 million. AIDS has already orphaned 15 million children. World Vision, a child-focused Christian humanitarian organization working in almost 100 countries, is a leading agency in development, advocacy and care for people and households living with HIV and AIDS.
The budget increase would extend the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) for an additional five years beyond its original mandate expiring in 2008. The number of people receiving access to antiretroviral drugs through PEPFAR would increase to 2.5 million.
“Lack of access to treatment is a death sentence for millions,” said Zachritz. “Increasing the numbers of those who receive medication is crucial, as is providing the services that can prevent pregnant women from transmitting the virus to their babies, protecting a new generation.”
Learn More
>> Read the report "G8: Keep Your Promise on Global AIDS, Act Now" (pdf, 9 pages).
>> Learn More about the G8 meeting and World Vision's focus. Get Involved
>> Pray that children and families worldwide living with or affected by HIV and AIDs would find care, comfort, and support within their communities.
|  | 1-888-511-6548 : P.O. Box 9716
Federal Way, WA 98063-9716 Who Is World Vision?
World Vision is a Christian humanitarian organization dedicated to working with children, families and their communities worldwide to reach their full potential by tackling the causes of poverty and injustice.
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