The Latest
Dozens of Countries Left Out of New PEPFAR Strategy, Threatening Global AIDS Response
The plan takes the foot off the gas for more than 37 countries PEPFAR does not designate as "priority," leaving behind millions of people living with HIV due to a lack of resources and a waning commitment to evidence-based strategies.
UNAIDS and PEPFAR Announce Dramatic Reductions in New HIV Infections Among Children in the 21 Countries Most Affected by HIV in Africa
Concerted global efforts have led to a 60% drop in new infections among children, which has averted 1.2 million new HIV infections among children in 21 priority countries since 2009.
Supreme Court Ends Anti-Prostitution Pledge for Organizations Receiving PEPFAR
The Supreme Court yesterday struck down a provision of the United States Leadership Against HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria Act of 2003. The act had required organizations who receive funds under the President's Emergency Plan for AID Relief (PEP...
PEPFAR Reauthorization "Rests With Congress," OGAC Official Says
Speaking at a briefing on Tuesday at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) in Washington, D.C., Deputy Global AIDS Coordinator Julia Martin said "\t]he decision about whether to reauthorize [PEPFAR] 'rests with Congress. ... Wh...
Kenya Considers How PEPFAR Technical Guidance on MSM Squares With Laws Against Homosexuality
PEPFAR's recent release of its "Technical Guidance on Combination HIV Prevention" (.pdf) for men who have sex with men (MSM) "could force countries like Kenya who are strongly opposed to men having sex with men to backtrack," Nairobi Star/allAfrica.c...
PEPFAR and Ukraine: A Partnership to Stop the Spread of HIV
Cross-posted from the State Department Blog.
I recently visited Ukraine for the first time in my role as U.S. Global AIDS Coordinator. I was pleased to have the opportunity to return to Ukraine, a country where I have spent considerable time working...
Bush Faces Criticism for Domestic HIV/AIDS Policy; Lauded for Efforts to Fight Disease in Africa
Although President Bush has been "applauded" by some HIV/AIDS advocates for his efforts to fight the epidemic in Africa, he is also facing criticism for his domestic AIDS policies, the Houston Chronicle reports (Roth, Houston Chronicle, 8/3). Bush in...
Congress Should "Adequately Fund" Global AIDS Initiative, Sen. Rick Santorum Says in Washington Times Opinion Piece
President Bush's global AIDS initiative "needs to be adequately funded, and it's \the job of] Congress to make that happen," Sen. Rick Santorum (R-Pa.) writes in a [Washington Times opinion piece (Santorum, Washington Times, 7/16). Bush in May signe...
For U.S. Senator Coleman, AIDS Issue Is Personal
With the House approving a $15 billion bill to combat AIDS in Africa and the Caribbean Thursday, Sen. Norm Coleman (R-Minn.) said he hopes the Senate follows quickly. "Get the money out to folks who need it," he said. "I want to get it done."
For th...
Senator Sessions to See If Sex or Needles Prime Cause of African AIDS
A debate on whether a $15 billion humanitarian effort should be redirected has begun in Congress based on a study's conclusion that dirty needles might be responsible for as many African AIDS cases as unprotected sex.
Sen. Jeff Sessions, (R-Ala.), h...