S. Africa: Zuma Urged to Push G-20 for Universal HIV Care

President Jacob Zuma is being urged to advocate for universal access to HIV prevention, treatment, and care when he meets with other G-20 leaders this month in Canada.

The push from the advocacy group Treatment Action Campaign (TAC) notes that Zuma is the only G-20 representative from Africa and asks him to speak for the entire region on the issue.

The letter, signed by TAC General Secretary Vuyiseka Dubula, raises issues about a softening of the U.S. commitment to provide resources for HIV services. Specifically, the letter expresses concern that the United States is backtracking on targeted funding from the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief in favor of the broader mandate of the Global Health Initiative.

"It is particularly concerning that, despite how far we are from meeting our targets for universal access, funders have already begun to backtrack on their commitment," Dubula said. "Without expanded funding, programs across Africa would be unable to continue initiating new patients on to treatment," she said.

In a separate letter, TAC asked U.S. Vice President Joe Biden for a meeting during his visit to the World Cup festivities in South Africa. The vice president's schedule thus far only includes attendance at the opening ceremony and the U.S.-England match on June 12, U.S. Embassy spokesperson Sharon Hudson Dean said.

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