Clinton Wants Aids Funding Boost

[emilyg]

Former US President Bill Clinton has called for an increase in funding to keep down the cost of drugs for people with HIV.

Mr Clinton told a world Aids conference in Mexico that a 50% rise was needed in the next two years just to keep pace with expanding drug programme.

Figures released ahead of the meeting show the number of people with HIV worldwide has decreased slightly.

However, infection rates are still rising in some countries.

Across the world 33 million people are affected by the syndrome.

"Aids is
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/7540122.stm

[jjr5]

1. Yeah, I got to see him speak today

He lauded Bush's proposal to increase AIDS treatment funding to $48 billion, but I have some problems with it b/c some people say that it will make African nations feel obligated to whatever the U.S. wants them to do. A commentator said that we should focus the money also on preventing the spread of HIV. Also, we should give the money to international AIDS organizations whom we can hold accountable. They would know how to best deal with the problem, after all, many countries are battling the 'fiery dragon of AIDS."

[emilyg]

2. Prevention is important.