In 2001 the Bush administration joined 188 other governments
in adopting the United Nations Declaration of Commitment on
HIV/AIDS. This committed each government to improving their
response to its domestic AIDS epidemic and establishing
targets for financing, policy and programming. Last week, in
an address before the United Nations commemorating the 25th
anniversary of the AIDS epidemic, Secretary General Kofi Annan
warned, “The epidemic continues to outpace us. There are more
new infections than ever before.” While we expect third world
nations to have difficulties coping with the epidemic, a new
report suggests that the Bush administration is failing to
adequately combat the crisis in America.
The Open Society Institute, a public policy research
organization, recently released a comprehensive report on the
state of HIV/AIDS in America. It suggests that President Bush
has failed to effectively handle this devastating epidemic.
Although the Office of National AIDS Policy, located in the
White House, is responsible for domestic efforts to reduce new
infections, it has a tiny staff and little if any authority.
Because the nation lacks a single AIDS authority, the
government hasn’t been able to implement a national plan to
combat the epidemic.
AIDS funding has been hamstrung under President Bush. The CARE
Act, the government’s major AIDS initiative, had its funding
cut this year. HIV prevention funding for 2006 at the Centers
for Disease Control (CDC) was slashed by $12 million. Last
year, the administration cut $14 million from the Housing
Opportunities for People with AIDS program, which provides
housing subsidies for the poor. Dr. Jim Curran, a former CDC
director, has warned that the nation’s HIV/AIDS policy is
“hampered by insufficient funding.”
Recent estimates seemingly indicate that one in four infected
with HIV is unaware of their condition. But this is merely an
educated guess, because the Bush administration has never
bothered to conduct annual, nationally representative surveys.
Consequently, policymakers don’t know the full extent of
infection. And the CDC can’t identify pockets of infection
where concentrated interventions are necessary.
The administration, in an effort to pander to the religious
right, has failed to promote policies to reduce HIV
transmission. Billions of taxpayer dollars have been poured
into abstinence-until-marriage programs. Yet studies
repeatedly show that comprehensive sex education programs help
teenagers delay the onset of sexual activity, increase condom
usage, and reduce their number of sexual partners. Research
has also shown that needle exchange programs help to reduce
transmissions. Yet the Bush administration requires states
receiving HIV prevention funding to agree not to promote drug
use, which is defined to include the exchange programs.
Although the United States is the world’s leader in AIDS
treatment, approximately half of those infected with HIV are
not receiving regular care. This is partly due to the high
cost of health insurance, which many can no longer afford.
Although President Bush has been in office for six years, he
has yet to deal with the skyrocketing cost of health
insurance. Low Medicaid reimbursement rates, which discourage
physicians from treating the poor, have also contributed to
the lack of treatment. And Medicaid’s eligibility requirements
prevent most of those in the early stages of AIDS from
receiving treatment, because they don’t meet the definition of
“disabled.”
Federal law prohibits discrimination against those with
HIV/AIDS, yet the Bush administration has done little to
enforce the law. As a result, discrimination is a pervasive
problem. A 2003 study demonstrated civil rights violations
against people living with HIV/AIDS in employment, medical
care, and housing. This has also inhibited access to care and
treatment.
In recent years AIDS deaths have declined due to new drug
therapies. Yet less than half of those who need drugs are
receiving them. The federal government funds AIDS medication
for the poor through AIDS Drug Assistance Programs (ADAP). But
owing to budget cuts, 26 states that receive ADAP funding
announced earlier this year that they were forced to impose
waiting lists or take other steps to curtail distribution of
the drugs. At least 20 states don’t receive enough ADAP
funding to cover all AIDS medications, and 11 can’t cover the
only drug approved to inhibit HIV.
While those infected with HIV are far better off in America
than many other countries, it’s clear that the Bush
administration should be doing much more to defeat AIDS. In a
2005 speech President Bush said, “HIV/AIDS is a daily burden
for our families and neighbors and friends.” Mr. Bush has two
more years to demonstrate that he truly understands this. But
many of those living with AIDS do not.
Printer-friendly format
Email this thread to a friend
Bookmark this thread
(21 posts)
Send PM |
Profile |
Ignore
