Bush Calls For Renewal Of Global HIV/AIDS Plan Without Abstinence-Only Education Changes

Main Category: HIV / AIDS
Also Included In: Women's Health / Gynecology;  Sexual Health / STDs
Article Date: 20 Feb 2008 - 5:00 PDT

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During a news conference in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, Sunday, President Bush called on Congress to quickly reauthorize his global HIV/AIDS program and keep intact a provision that requires one-third of HIV prevention funding be spent on abstinence-only education, the New York Times reports (Stolberg, New York Times, 2/18).

According to the Los Angeles Times, an Institute of Medicine report and a Government Accountability Office report have said the strong focus on abstinence in the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief has limited the program's reach. "It is a balanced program," Bush said during a news conference with Tanzanian President Jakaya Kikwete, adding, "It is an ABC program: abstinence, be faithful and condoms. It's a program that's been proven effective" (Gerstenzang, Los Angeles Times, 2/18).

Bush is requesting PEPFAR be given $30 billion in funding over the next five years. "I understand there's voices on both ends of the political spectrum trying to alter the program," Bush said, adding, "I would ask Congress to listen to leaders on the continent of Africa, find -- analyze what works, stop the squabbling and get the program reauthorized" (Baker, Washington Post, 2/18).

A draft bill in the House Foreign Affairs Committee includes changes that would remove the abstinence-only education requirement from PEPFAR. The draft bill also includes new language that would strengthen support for contraceptive services for the purpose of augmenting the HIV prevention effort, as well as remove a requirement that groups receiving PEPFAR funds adopt a policy position opposing prostitution.

Some congressional Republicans oppose the changes. However, former House Foreign Affairs Committee Chair Tom Lantos (D-Calif.), who died last week, has said that the Democrats' proposed changes to the program would reaffirm a compromise Republicans and Democrats made when they approved the original PEPFAR bill in 2003 (Daily Women's Health Policy Report, 2/8).

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