Gay Men's Health Crisis Criticizes Bush Administration for Its Attacks on the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria

Gay Men's Health Crisis (GMHC) strongly objects to the decision by the United States to block new funding for HIV/AIDS programs around the world through the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, and its systematic attempts to undermine the work of the World Health Organization and its efforts to ensure that 3 million people in the developing world receive HIV treatment by the end of 2005.

"The suspension, proposed by the United States, of new funding for HIV, TB and malaria programs by the Global Fund, will lead to the loss of countless numbers of lives and to thousands of new infections," said Ana Oliveira, Executive Director of GMHC. "A fifth round of funding by the Global Fund would provide vital resources to nations around the world confronting these pandemics."

GMHC urges the Bush administration to rescind its decision to block fifth round funding. The influence of the United States would be better expended by pressuring Congress and other donor nations to make adequate payments to the Global Fund that would ensure continuation of existing programs and the start-up of new programs.