WORLD VISION LAUDS U.S. FUNDING INCREASE TO COMBAT AIDS, MALARIA
Source: World Vision - USA
Geraldine Ryerson-Cruz
Website: http://worldvision.org
Reuters and AlertNet are not responsible for the content of this article or for any external internet sites. The views expressed are the author's alone.
WASHINGTON, D.C., Feb. 16, 2007 -- World Vision applauds Congress and
President George W. Bush for increasing funding for programs to fight AIDS
and malaria in fiscal year 2007.
"We are especially pleased that the resolution increases global AIDS
funding by $1.3 billion and malaria funding by $149 million," said Robert
Zachritz, World Vision's senior policy advisor for global development. "It
just goes to show that even in tight budget times, the Congress and the
President can work together in a bipartisan manner to fight global poverty
and disease."
"It is essential that we now ensure that children who are vulnerable or
orphaned by AIDS are a priority when this funding is used,'' said Zachritz.
World Vision, an international Christian humanitarian organization, along
with the ONE Campaign and many other non-governmental groups, will continue
to encourage government leaders to commit more funding to the global fight
against AIDS and poverty. More than 200,000 people joined the ONE Campaign
and World Vision in a recent appeal to the White House and Congress asking
for the higher funding levels.
Notably, the total amount designated for international humanitarian
assistance programs is less than 1 percent of the total of U.S. government
spending for the year.
AIDS has already orphaned 15 million children. In 2006 alone, it killed an
estimated 380,000 children under the age of 15. U.S. citizens are invited
to keep the pressure on government leaders to increase AIDS-related funding
in 2008. To add support to the "Make Your Mark for Children" petition, go
to www.seekjustice.org or send the text message "ACTNOW" to 77812.
[ Any views expressed in this article are those of the writer and not of Reuters. ]
