I was browsing around while working on my research paper, and read that PEPFAR (President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief) was in transition; they are cutting down the funding for AIDS in Sub-Saharan Africa. What implications would this change have in HIV care in these countries? How would their government provide adequate care? How much responsibility should the United States carry for patients who are currently in care?
It is disturbing and frightening in a way to see how U.S.'s financial state can make so much difference in healthcare abroad, and it is necessary to ask how global aid is distributed--which countries and diseases receive aid and why.
Article: http://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMp1310982#t=article
-Hwajin
It is evident that Sub Saharan Africa has been fairing well in responding to the problem of HIV and AIDS courtesy of USAID. Lives have been saved, HIV Counseling and Treatment has been continuously improving as the number of people who access it has increased over the past years, those receiving care and support and the level of HIV and AIDS awareness to the general population is augmented day by day. Despite these remarkable strides, achieving an HIV free society in this region still remains far from the grip of our hands. Everyday a number of children and adults are newly infected with HIV. A number of people default from AIDS treatments, poverty is compromising HIV and AIDS intervention. The situation will be worse if USAID and other current donors halt to support current HIV projects. However, I strongly feel that it is high time for the governments of this region took up the responsibility of efficiently and effectively funding HIV and AIDS programs. Let people learn to depend on themselves!
ReplyDeletePeter