[Ip-health] Fwd: [HEALTHGAP] WPost: "AIDS, Hurry"

[George M. Carter]

The Washington Post notes, perhaps only rhetorically, that Senate delays in
funding is a "crime."

I agree. As much as the intentional delays produced by pharmaceutical
companies and corrupt governments in failing to provide treatment is a
crime. Against humanity. It is as plain as the nose on anyone's face. Even
the face of the men, women and children who are dying every day in the
thousands.

But the U.S. government's motto appears to be
"Money for Bombs, Money for Blood, Not for HIV/AIDS"

George M. Carter

>AIDS, Hurry
>
>Saturday, April 5, 2003; Page A17
>
>TICKTOCK, two months and counting since President Bush announced a $10
>billion commitment to AIDS prevention. Yes, it takes time to figure out ho=
w
>to spend so much money. But delay in this case is caused by myopic domesti=
c
>obsessions that have little to do with the facts on the ground in Africa.
>Last week debate in the House was dominated by concerns over condom
>distribution. Republicans on the International Relations Committee wanted =
it
>to be mentioned as a last resort, while Democrats wanted to give it equal
>status with emphasis on abstinence and fidelity in marriage. The Democrats
>won, thanks to the persistence and patience of Chairman Henry J. Hyde
>(R-Ill.), who has the pro-life credentials to push such a compromise.
>Countries in fact should not be restricted in their promotion of condoms i=
n
>cases where that strategy may be most effective. But the larger picture is
>this: While members of Congress continue to seek and score minor political
>victories, people in Africa continue to die of AIDS. It is now a treatable
>disease, but in poor countries most people do not receive treatment. This =
is
>a crime.
>
>The Senate is now mulling, mulling. Three meetings were scheduled and then
>canceled. Talks broke down six weeks ago over how much money would go to U=
.S.
>organizations and how much to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis =
and
>Malaria, an international umbrella group that President Bush helped found =
but
>that he now seems to have cooled on. Another fight is over how much money
>should go to improving cleanliness in hospitals, as opposed to promoting
>safer sex. With all respect, U.S. senators shouldn't be fine-tuning the
>strategies in any case. Appropriate the money and let people in Africa go =
to
>work.
>=A9 2003 The Washington Post Company