FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Ann-Louise Colgan (202) 546-7961

Bush's Budget undermines AIDS Fight;
Africa betrayed by low funding levels for health, human development

Wednesday, February 4, 2004 (Washington, DC) - The 2005
budget submitted to Congress this week includes far lower levels of
funding for HIV/AIDS programs in Africa and globally than what is
needed, and what was earlier promised by the President, Africa
Action noted today. The White House's request for next year
includes only $2.8 billion for programs to fight HIV/AIDS,
tuberculosis and malaria globally, with only a portion of this money
going to Africa. In his 2003 State of the Union address, President
Bush had promised $3 billion per year on an emergency basis to
fight HIV/AIDS in Africa and the Caribbean.

Salih Booker, Executive Director of Africa Action, said today,
"Bush's budget request reveals the misplaced priorities of the
current Administration. AIDS represents the greatest threat to
human security in the world today, but while the President requested
more than $400 billion for military defense, he asked for less than
1% of this amount to fight the deadly global threat of HIV/AIDS."

Africa Action notes that the budget request also severely cuts
funding for the Global Fund to fight HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and
malaria, a crucial vehicle to the fight against these diseases in poor
countries, especially in Africa. The President has asked for only
$200 million for the Global Fund for 2005. This is considerably less
than the $550 million that Congress appropriated for 2004, and less
than the U.S. fair share for 2005.

Similarly, at the domestic level, the budget requests only a minor
increase ($35 million) for the AIDS Drug Assistance Program
(ADAP), while ignoring the growing need for access to essential
treatment and care, and for proven prevention programs. Booker
noted, "Instead of supporting the fight against HIV/AIDS here at
home by increasing funding for effective prevention and treatment
programs, the Bush Administration prioritizes the promotion of
abstinence. This supports the agenda of a narrow, conservative
base, while rejecting the needs of those living with HIV/AIDS, and
those most at risk."

Africa Action emphasizes that the 2005 budget fails to provide the
necessary funding to support African efforts to fight HIV/AIDS and
promote human development. The request for two new Bush
Administration initiatives - the Global AIDS Initiative and the
Millennium Challenge Account - include lower funding levels than
originally promised by the President. These initiatives also cover
only a handful of African countries.

Booker noted today, "The Bush Administration's selective approach
to Africa blocks the emergence of a real and comprehensive
response to the challenges of HIV/AIDS and poverty. Africa needs
billions of dollars NOW to save lives and defeat AIDS. Bush
promised U.S. support, but instead his inadequate funding requests
and proposed cuts in essential child survival programs will cost
millions of African lives next year."

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