"Simple Human Compassion" Should Make Countries Contribute More to Fight Against AIDS, Editorial Says

"Simple human compassion -- if not financial interest -- " should prompt wealthy countries to contribute more to the fight against AIDS, a Financial Times editorial says. While President Bush has "moved in the right direction" with his $15 billion, five-year global AIDS initiative, the details of the plan have caused it to become "mired in controversy," according to the Times. The "biggest problem" is the administration's "antipathy to multilateral action," which has prompted Bush to devote most of the money to new programs, which must first be established, rather than give the money to the already established Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, the Times says. While this may not be the "most efficient way" to use the AIDS funding, "[a]t least the U.S. is prepared to spend serious money tackling AIDS in the developing world," unlike Europe whose contributions so far have been "shockingly mean," the editorial says. The Times concludes that countries should contribute more money to the fight against AIDS and should improve access to antiretroviral drugs for HIV-positive people worldwide (Financial Times, 7/21).

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