Global Health

Despite breakthroughs in the prevention and treatment of AIDS, the epidemic continues to grow in Africa. The broader economic and social consequences are becoming clear--and they are not good. During the last decade, the life expectancy in nine African countries fell by more than 17 years because of AIDS. The United Nation's Joint Program on HIV/AIDS estimates that 42 million African children will lose one or both parents to AIDS by 2010. In addition, the gross domestic product in many counties is expected to decline by as much as 20 percent. The countries in sub-Saharan Africa are among the poorest in the world, and their ability to respond to the epidemic is limited. At the same time, the United States and the United Nations have made important contributions to the fight against AIDS. Research supported by the U.S. Agency for International Development has helped to identify proven interventions to help stop the spread of the disease. The U.N.'s Joint Program on HIV/AIDS has been an important advocate for greater spending on AIDS programs by national governments, private companies, and donors. The World Bank, however, estimates that $1 billion is needed annually to address the epidemic in Africa-more than three times the current level of spending.

GAO noted that: (1) despite some breakthroughs in treatment and techniques for preventing AIDS, the epidemic continues to grow; (2) the broader economic and social consequences are becoming clear--and they are not good; (3) over the last decade, the life expectancy in nine African countries declined by over 17 years due to AIDS; (4) by 2010, the United Nations' Joint Program on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) estimates that 42 million children in Africa will lose one or both parents to AIDS and that gross domestic product in many countries will decline by as much as 20 percent; (5) the countries in sub-Saharan Africa are among the poorest in the world and have a limited capacity to address the epidemic; (6) the United States and the United Nations have made some important contributions to the fight against AIDS; (7) the Agency for International Development (AID) helped to identify interventions proven to prevent the spread of AIDS and UNAIDS has supported research that played an important role as an advocate for increased spending for AIDS programs by national governments, private companies, and donors; and (8) however, the World Bank estimates that $1 billion a year is needed by the world community to address the epidemic in Africa--more than three times the current level of spending.