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Loading ...AIDS Bill Sets Unclear Treatment Target
08.01.2008 7:57am EDT
(Washington) The global AIDS bill signed by President Bush on Wednesday sets a goal of treating more than the 2 million-patient target set in 2003, but how much more isn’t clear.
In signing the bill, President Bush said, “With this funding, we will support treatment for at least 3 million people.” However, the bill itself doesn’t set a specific target.Early versions of the bill that passed the House specified a target of treating at least 3 million people by 2013, but that number was removed in the final version that Bush signed. Instead, the bill now says U.S. policy is to increase the number of people receiving anti-retroviral treatment beyond the original goal of 2 million.
The $48 billion measure renews the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, which is set to expire in September. The program has been credited by Republicans and Democrats alike with saving millions of lives in Africa alone.
The State Department said 1.7 million people had received treatment as of March 31 and the original bill’s 2 million-person goal will be reached by December.
I want to go on record, I am a licensed funeral director in New Jersey. I called the CDC in July 2004. I told them that the mortality rate for AIDS/HIV is off. I have had doctor’s tell me families have asked them not to put it on the death certificates. I have had families tell me they have asked doctor’s not to put it on the death certificates. I told a woman from the CDC AIDS unit in maryland about my findings and she became irrate with me. I explained to her I am a mortician and i know what i am talking about. This same woman stated that she was disturbed by my findings. she also stated that based on the statistical information from each stated funding in provided from the government for housing, medication, treatment etc…, but if the reports are inaccurate so is the funding from the government. I told this to the CDC and now they are publishing information about the “US underestimated the HIV status”. how can they say this when they were told.