Two decades ago, the U.S. government created what's described as the largest commitment by any nation in history to combat a single disease, AIDS
Graves of children who died of AIDS, many from two decades ago, are seen at an orphanage in Nairobi, Kenya, on Friday, Sept. 8, 2023. A U.S. foreign aid program that officials say has saved 25 million lives in Africa and elsewhere is being threatened by some Republicans who fear program funding might go to organizations that promote abortion. The graves at the edge of the orphanage tell a story of despair.
The issue of abortion has been a sensitive one since PEPFAR's inception in 2003. But each time the program came up for renewal in Congress, Republicans and Democrats were able to put aside partisan politics to support a program that's long been seen as the vanguard of global aid. In language echoing the early, harsh years of the epidemic, Heritage called HIV/AIDS a “lifestyle disease” that should be suppressed by “education, moral suasion and legal sanctions.” It recommended halving U.S. funding for PEPFAR, saying poor countries should bear more of the costs.
Supporters of the program say that under existing U.S. law, partners are already prohibited from using its funding for abortion services. The head of PEPFAR, John Nkengasong, told the AP he knew of no instance of the program’s money going directly or indirectly to fund abortion services. “If PEPFAR goes, who is going to meet that cost?” asked Josephine Kaleebi, who leads an organization in Uganda that helped the program's first-ever recipient of HIV treatment medication.The group, Reach Out Mbuya Community Health Initiative, was founded by members of Uganda’s Catholic Church, which is against abortion. In the reception area, portraits of priests line the walls.
In neighboring Kenya, Bernard Mwololo believes he is alive because of the drugs that PEPFAR provides. “Sometimes it’s so crazy when you hear people saying that these HIV drugs should be bought by the local government,” he said. “I am telling you, they can’t manage it.”
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Republican opposition to abortion threatens global HIV/AIDS program that has saved 25 million livesTwo decades ago, the U.S. government created what's described as the largest commitment by any nation in history to combat a single disease, AIDS
Read more »
| Republican vs. Republican: Senate seeks to wrest control over House in budgetWith House Republicans bitterly divided over Ukraine funding and other priorities, a mostly unified Senate wants to force the House into accepting the Senate’s position on government funding.
Read more »
These Celebrity Parents Are Members of the Two Under Two ClubIYKYK...
Read more »
Two 9/11 victims identified more than two decades after World Trade Center attacksThe remains of 1,104 victims, or 40% of those who died, still have not been found nearly 22 years after the attacks on the World Trade Center.
Read more »
Two new 9/11 victims identified, the first identifications in two yearsNew York City officials have identified two more victims of the September 11 terror attacks on the World Trade Center, just days before the 22nd memorial anniversary of the attacks.
Read more »
Online CBT Aids Remission of Anxiety, Depression in StudentsThe intervention, which can be supported on mobile phones or tablets, could be transferred to primary care facilities or vulnerable populations in rural areas.
Read more »