U.S. Policies Concerning Fight Against HIV/AIDS Pandemic Could Change ‘in Significant Ways,’ Editorial Says
Although "[w]aging the fight" against HIV/AIDS has "brought on an angry debate between the White House and critics" in the U.S. and abroad, there are "signs" that U.S. policies concerning the HIV/AIDS pandemic might "be opening up in significant ways," a San Francisco Chronicle editorial says. The U.S. now allows for the distribution of generic antiretroviral drugs, and likely House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) next year "could push the White House" to increase funding for the Global Fund To Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, according to the editorial. In addition, Global Fund Executive Director Richard Feachem has said that the "squabble" over U.S. HIV/AIDS policies has "softened" and that the "rise" of Pelosi could "further ease conflicts," the editorial says. The Global Fund supports programs for commercial sex workers and injection drug users and does not "harp on sexual abstinence or avoidance of condoms," the editorial says, adding that the Global Fund also does not "designat[e] projects" but instead "waits for ideas to come from needy nations." Although some critics say that the Global Fund's approach of allocating funding "as targets are met" is "wasteful and chaotic," Feachem "thinks the AIDS fight needs a bold and fresh" approach, the editorial says, concluding, "He's right -- the battle clearly calls for new thinking" (San Francisco Chronicle, 11/17).
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