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Can President Obama End AIDS?
In a recent story for The New England Journal of Medicine, antiretroviral treatment can prevent the spread of HIV, in addition to saving those infected from sickness and death.
With this, President Obama could lead the world in a massive effort to expand access to treatment and rid humanity of AIDS — the most devastating disease of our time. But at the same time, our economy is staggering with cutbacks. The Kaiser Family Foundation just reported that funding for HIV/AIDS leveled in 2009 and declined 10% in 2010. This is the FIRST TIME EVER! USA gives more than 1/2 of the worlds contributions to fight HIV/AIDS gave $700 million less in 2010 than in 2009. In the US itself, the amount in 2011 is $28 million less than in 2010.
This is a great shame, as millions of people receiving treatment worldwide depend on these funds to stay alive. Since the pandemic became public 30 years ago, nearly 30 million people have died from AIDS. At least 30 million others are living with HIV, and another 30 million are likely to become infected in the next decade if nothing more is done worldwide. Will Obama and the administration stand up to fight the epidemic?
Tom Thayer
author: Desmond Tutu
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