On the incompatibility of international health care and partisan politics

The funding that pays for the HIV and TB programming at the hospital and clinic I am working at is in jeopardy. “Why is this?” you ask. Ineffective treatment methods? Nope; we actually have one of the highest survival rates in the province and in the country. Budget cuts coming from the South African government? Nope; it was only recently that President Mbeki even admitted that HIV and AIDS were related and government spending, while still relatively meager, is just now starting to grow. The answer is: Partisan Politics in US Congress.

Almost all of the money that the McCord Hospital uses to pay for antiretrovirals, TB medications, and the necessary staff to administer/monitor these drugs comes from PEPFAR - the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief – a five-year, $15 billion program that directs funding for HIV/AIDS, TB and malaria primarily to 15 focus countries and provides funding to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria. However, the renewed 2007 budget for this fund is now in danger because of budget concerns raised by the newly elected Democratic Senate. Here is how the story was first reported in the San Fransico Chronicle:

“Because of an impasse over budget priorities that began during the waning days of the Republican-controlled Congress last fall, nearly all federal spending for this year has been frozen at 2006 levels. That creates special problems for programs, like PEPFAR, that were scheduled for big expansions in 2007.

At stake is nearly $1 billion in new spending for various programs to fight AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria abroad. The Bush administration had sought the money, and both houses in Congress were inclined to support the funding, but it could all disappear by the end of February without special consideration by lawmakers whose attention is now focused on Iraq.

Unless the new Democrat-controlled Congress makes an exception, PEPFAR will have to stay at last year's spending level through September -- leaving no money for new enrollment after February.”

I can not emphasize enough how what a devastating blow this would be to the developing world; If not reversed, this partisan impasse will force hundreds of thousands of people to forgo prevention, treatment, care and support for the three most deadly infectious diseases in the world.

The situation has become so dire, in fact, that Archbishop Desmond Tutu recently wrote an OpEd piece for the Washington Post addressing this issue. Because Archbishop Tutu is far more eloquent than I might ever hope to be, I will end this post with an excerpt from his editorial, and I would greatly encourage you to go and read the text in its entirety here. And hopefully I will have some positive news to share with you all when the pertinent bill is taken up by Congress in the coming days. Take it away Mr. Archbishop:

"If funding for 2007 is not increased from 2006 levels, it may be impossible for the United States to continue making headway on the human catastrophe that is HIV-AIDS. Staying at 2006 funding levels would result in a loss of up to $700 million for the 15 PEPFAR focus countries. As a result, 280,000 fewer people will be put on AIDS treatment. That is 280,000 lives needlessly lost. …

HIV-AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria, and the tens of thousands of orphaned and vulnerable children are symptoms of our collective failure to protect each other, to ensure that all people's basic needs and rights are met, and to guarantee everyone a life of dignity. This failure is very troubling to me.

It is a sign of our breakdown as one human family. Worldwide, we have made stops and starts at healing this rift and keeping our promises to one another. But if Congress does not act to restore that $1 billion for global health, poverty alleviation and foreign aid, the rift will only grow wider and healing will be further beyond our reach.

The United States has the potential to be a global leader. Congress has the opportunity to remind the world of the good that can be done in the name of the American people, to help people around the world build better lives and restore our brotherhood and sisterhood. The promises made to poor countries are not just words on paper. They concern the lives of people who, in different circumstances, could be you or me. … I join the world in watching, and waiting for its decision."