Letters to the Editor Respond to New York Times' HIV/AIDS Articles

The New York Times published letters to the editor (available here and here) responding to the newspaper's series that examined the fight against HIV/AIDS worldwide.

In one of the letters, Eric Goosby, the U.S. global AIDS coordinator, wrote that the articles "conveyed an unjustifiably negative picture of the global AIDS fight and America's role in it." According to Goosby, the U.S. "is expanding treatment in Uganda and throughout the [PEPFAR] countries. By 2014, we will be supporting treatment for more than four million people with HIV, and we recognize the role others must play in meeting the global need. While challenges remain, we are building on and expanding our successes, not walking away from them. This is a global responsibility, and we are using this success story to invite other governments and donors to join us in meeting it."

Joseph O'Neill, the director of the White House Office of AIDS Policy under former President George W. Bush, wrote: "One of [PEPFAR's] aims was to demonstrate that, with resources commensurate with need, high-level political leadership and good results-oriented management, health development dollars could have a real, measurable impact. Although well intended, the diluting of the aggressive stand of prior years against HIV/AIDS to finance other agendas is ultimately a disservice to all global health concerns. Rather, funding should be sought to mount an effective response on multiple health fronts."

Letters from advocates and researchers are also featured (5/14).

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