Originally posted by the Voice of America.
Voice of America content is produced by the Voice of America,
a United States federal government-sponsored entity, and is in
the public domain.


Obama Criticized Over AIDS Funding

   Joe DeCapua 13 July 2010

   The  head of the Global AIDS Alliance has sharply criticized President
   Obama,  saying  Mr.  Obama has failed to meet his funding promises for
   HIV/AIDS.

   Paul Zeitz says President Obama is not nearly as involved in the issue
   as   his  predecessors  George  Bush  or  Bill  Clinton.   The  State
   Departmentâs  Office  of  the  U.S.  Global  AIDS Coordinator strongly
   rejects the charges, calling them inaccurate.

   Zeitz  says, âUnfortunately, the Obama administration has not kept its
   word  in  terms  of  the  AIDS response, globally, and particularly in
   Africa.   President  Obama made commitments during the (presidential)
   campaign  to  increase spending on global AIDS that he has not matched
   with his action.â

   Zeitz says he and others have been âdialoguing with the administration
   and  encouraging  them  to  review their policies.  And weâre hopeful
   they  may  do  that.  But at this point they seem to be very much off
   track.â

   Economic crisis

   He rejects arguments that the global economic crisis should affect the
   amount of money allocated to HIV/AIDS.

   âMy view is that President Obama gave his word that he would provide a
   billion  dollars  per  year of increased spending on global AIDS.  He
   committed  to  doubling foreign aid, including aid to Africa. Â Thatâs
   about a $25 billion increase,â says Zeitz.

   The  Global AIDS Alliance head goes on to criticize Mr. Obama, saying,
   âHe  has  no integrity because heâs not kept those promises because of
   the financial crisis being the excuse.â

   Zeitz  says  Mr. Obama managed to come up with âa trillion dollars for
   the  Wall  Street bankers in about 30 days.  Weâre asking for a small
   amount  of money compared to what he has been able to generate when he
   actually took the time to work on it.â

   Zeitz  says  most of the discussions with the administration are lower
   level,  unlike  those with the Bush and Clinton administrations, which
   saw direct presidential involvement.

   âPresident  Bush  himself  and  his  inner  circle were working on the
   (Presidentâs) Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR),â he says.

   â[This] administration is focused on the three Ds â defense, diplomacy
   and development.  And theyâre just not implementing their development
   initiative hardly at all,â he says.

   Administration response

   A  State  Department spokesperson says, âFirst, in a very tight fiscal
   environment,  President  Obama  requested increases for PEPFAR in both
   the  fiscal year 2010 and 2011 budgets, and $63 billion over six years
   for the Global Health Initiative, of which PEPFAR is the cornerstone.â

   The  spokesperson  adds,  âSecond,  the  Administration  has  not only
   released   a   comprehensive  document  outlining  the  Global  Health
   Initiative,  with  specific  targets for preventing maternal-child HIV
   transmissions, but also a comprehensive PEPFAR five-year strategy.â

   In  addressing  the  levels  of  funding, the spokesperson says, âWhat
   matters  is  not  dollars,  but  what  we  are doing to save lives and
   improve  the  quality of life of millions of people now suffering from
   preventable  and  treatable  diseasesâ¦..   That is what presents the
   most  promise  to  prevent  HIV/AIDS transmissions, treat those living
   with HIV and other illnesses, and improve the health of millions.â

.