This week, President Obama announces a new global health initiative, and the Democracy Video Challenge opens up voting to the public to select the winners of a nine-month international competition.
The United States is taking new steps to help some of the poorest regions of the world achieve better health care. President Obama recently announced he will ask the U.S. Congress for $8.6 billion — and $63 billion over six years — to shape a new, comprehensive global health strategy. America cannot isolate itself from the world or ignore the public health challenges beyond American borders, according to the president.
Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton said the initiative will become a crucial component of American foreign policy. Investments in global programs to fight HIV/AIDS, malaria, tuberculosis and other preventable diseases will save lives and reduce maternal and child deaths, she said.
The global health initiative goes beyond current programs designed to fight HIV/AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis. New programs will address the health needs of women, children and families in developing nations. It is also designed to lessen the impact of neglected tropical diseases. According to the World Health Organization, tropical diseases are a symptom of poverty – they mostly affect the poorest populations living in remote areas, urban slums or in conflict zones. More than 1 billion people — one-sixth of the world's population — suffer from one or more neglected tropical diseases. U.S. officials told reporters in a May 5th briefing that research shows a handful of neglected diseases could be eliminated with relatively modest resources. Basic care for mothers could drastically reduce the number of mothers and children who die in childbirth, for example.
The health initiative does not include a listing of specific regions and countries. But American officials say that a lot of countries in Africa could use more help. In the first year of the initiative, the funds include over $7 billion for the Bush administration's successful President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, or PEPFAR, and the President's Malaria Initiative. Another $1.3 billion is for other global health priorities. Last year the United States provided $8.1 billion for global health issues; the increase this year is $459 million.
This initiative builds, in part, on President Bush's PEPFAR program, which provides lifesaving treatment for more than 2 million people, up from 50,000 people six years ago. Significant gains have also been made under the President's Malaria Initiative, which in its third year alone has already reached more than 32 million people in 15 African countries. Addressing health care in developing countries and dealing with treatable tropical diseases is a cost-effective way to contribute to political stability. The result is enhanced security while advancing our core humanitarian values.
