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The U.S. President’s Emergency Plan
for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) has been highly successful in helping 31 partner
countries prevent HIV/AIDS and treat HIV-infected people, according to a new
Institute of Medicine (IOM) report. A diverse, 20-member committee of experts
conducted the congressionally mandated IOM evaluation of PEPFAR throughout the
last 4 years. IOM compiled evaluation results, based on approximately 400
interviews in 13 countries, into a 680-page report.
The United States contributed $21.8
billion toward PEPFAR efforts from 2004 to 2010. As a result of PEPFAR funding,
more than 3 million HIV-infected people received antiretroviral treatment in
2010, and 600,000 pregnant HIV-infected women have received antiretroviral
treatment to prevent HIV transmission to their babies.
Although IOM was not charged to
compare PEPFAR efforts by country, the report notes “disparities” in amounts
spent per HIV-infected person in partner countries. For example, although less
than 10 percent of Guyana residents have HIV, Guyana receives $3,842 in PEPFAR
support per HIV-infected person. In contrast, Zimbabwe receives only $25 per
HIV-infected person, although HIV prevalence is more than 10 percent.
A 2007 IOM evaluation criticized the
U.S. Congress for restricting condom distribution, banning needle exchange
programs, and requiring abstinence-only education. Congress removed these
restrictions from 2008 PEPFAR funding.
The 2013 IOM evaluation recommends
that PEPFAR monitor prevention activities more closely, intensify prevention
programs, and help partner countries to develop self-sustaining HIV/AIDS
efforts. The new IOM recommendations do not require congressional action.
Congress has funded PEPFAR through 2013.
The full report, “Evaluation of
PEPFAR,” was published online February 20, 2013, by the IOM at http://www.iom.edu/Reports/2013/Evaluation-of-PEPFAR.aspx.
The Friends of AIDS Foundation is
dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for HIV positive individuals and
empowering people to make healthy choices to prevent the spread of the HIV
virus. To learn more about The Friends of AIDS Foundation, please visit: http://www.friendsofaids.org.
TOGETHER WE REMAIN STRONG!
