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Goal 6 Combat Hiv Aids - Us
Goal 6 Combat Hiv Aids - Us
Millennium Development Goal 6:
Combat HIV/AIDS, Malaria, Tuberculosis and Other Diseases
Background
In 2000 at the United Nations Millennium Summit, the United States joined 189 world governments in the commitment to achieve
the MDGs, a set of eight goals aimed at improving the lives of the world’s poorest by 2015. MDG 6: Combat HIV/AIDS, Malaria,
Tuberculosis and other diseases aims to halt and reverse the spread of HIV/AIDS and other diseases by 2015. Since the beginning of
the HIV/AIDS epidemic, almost 60 million people have been infected with HIV and 25 million people have died of HIV‐related
causes.1 Other global diseases – malaria and tuberculosis – kill even more people than HIV/AIDS. Tuberculosis prevalence and
mortality rates are falling, but not fast enough to meet global targets.
The US’ Role in Achieving MDG 6
The US Government is a major contributor in the fight against HIV/AIDS and other diseases. In 2008, its contributions accounted
more than half of the overall contributions by all other governments combined. Created in 2003, the President’s Emergency Plan for
AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) is the umbrella initiative for all US programs that provide HIV/AIDS funding.2 Originally established for a five
year period with budget of $15 billion, PEPFAR was renewed in 2008 through 2013, with a new budget of $48 billion.3 In 2010, the
Global Health Initiative (GHI) was introduced, with a budget of $63 billion over six years, to help partner countries improve health
outcomes through strengthened health systems ‐ with a particular focus on infectious disease.4
Without a doubt, the US leads the world in the fight against HIV/AIDS. The US’ commitment to fund global health in 2011 is $8.24
billion, approximately a five‐fold increase compared to the 2001 figure of $1.7 billion.5 A large part of the global health fund – $5.85
billion – will be allocated to fight HIV/AIDS. In addition, the US Government has requested to more than double funding for
neglected tropical diseases (NTDs), demonstrating commitment to battle these historically underfunded diseases.6
What Can You Do to Help Achieve MDG 6?
You and your community play a vital role in combating HIV/AIDS, malaria, and other diseases. Action can be taken to raise
awareness of the MDGs and press the US government to fulfill its commitment to fight these infectious diseases by 2015. Encourage
your friends, colleagues and family to reach out to their members of Congress to raise awareness of the MDGs. Consider
participating in member organizations that work to make HIV/AIDS, Malaria, Tuberculosis and other diseases issues of the past.
There are a number of organizations – local, national and internationally based – that work on issues related to HIV/AIDS and other
diseases.
Every year, the United Nations Millennium Campaign holds a Stand Up, Take Action weekend offering a unique opportunity for
citizens around the world to come together to voice their support of the MDGs and demand that leaders take action to fulfill their
commitments to the world’s poorest! Join the millions who refuse to stay seated or silent in the face of poverty. To learn more
about how you and your community can participate, visit www.standagainstpoverty.org.
1
UNAIDS: The Joint United Nations Program on HIV/AIDS, www.unaids.org
2
AVERT, www.avert.org
3
Ibid
4
US Department of Health and Human Services, www.hhs.gov
5
Center for Global Development, www.cgdev.org
6
ONE, www.one.org
The Eight Millennium Development Goals
www.endpoverty2015.org and www.standagainstpoverty.org