NPR's Morning Edition examines Global Health Initiative

Jun 18 2010

NPR's Morning Edition examines the Obama administration's Global Health Initiative (GHI) and efforts to combat HIV/AIDS. The $63 billion dollar "initiative preserves the Bush AIDS relief plan," known as PEPFAR, and aims "to allow patients to get care at one location rather than having to seek care at different places. For example, family planning at one facility and HIV care at another," NPR notes. 

The piece includes comments by Anthony Fauci of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and Mark Harrington of the Treatment Action Group, who give their perspectives on the GHI's goals and priorities as well as its effect on HIV funding. 

NPR highlights Uganda, where health officials say "they are already feeling the effects of the [Obama] administration's slow-down in funding for HIV/AIDS. The country was considered an HIV/AIDS model during the Bush administration." The piece includes reaction to such changes by Ugandan doctor Peter Mugyenyi, who runs the country's Joint Clinical Research Center (Wilson, 6/17).