UN praise for US global AIDS efforts

The global battle against HIV and AIDS owes a great deal to funding by US President George W Bush, a senior UN official has said. Reuters quoted UNAIDS executive director Peter Piot as saying: "You know, they don't like to hear this in Europe, but actually we owe a lot to President Bush ... and what is at least important, is that the funds were effectively wired." In his 2003 state of the union address, Bush pledged some $15 billion over five years for HIV/AIDS care, prevention and treatment in 15 countries, mostly in Africa and the Caribbean. However, critics maintain that Washington's bilateral effort undermines the Global AIDS Fund, which faces a funding shortfall.