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Scepticism over US HIV/AIDS funding

    JOHANNESBURG

    A recent bill passed by the US House of Representatives authorising US $2 billion for the year in global HIV/AIDS funding has left activists outraged.

    However, White House spokesman, Scott McClellan, said President George W Bush was happy the money was authorised and remained committed to the $15 billion pledge to tackle HIV/AIDS in Africa and the Caribbean over five years.

    "The president proposed a $15 billion emergency plan to provide relief to those who are suffering... We are pleased that congress is moving forward to pass funding at the level needed to get things up and running," Reuters quoted McClellan as saying.

    Despite activists expecting $3 billion a year for five years, the bill did not specify how congress would make the entire pledge available.

    "I think there are a lot of people who want to work with the US, but they need to feel the US is a party they can count on ... it feeds scepticism when there's a cutback from $3 billion to $2 billion," Harvard University economics professor, Michael Kremer, confirmed.

    This article was produced by IRIN News while it was part of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. Please send queries on copyright or liability to the UN. For more information: https://shop.un.org/rights-permissions

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