UN says money to fight AIDS is falling

Another report on how the global recession has hurt funding for AIDS prevention comes today from the United Nations. The head of the UN-AIDS says that money to fight the disease has dropped for the first time in 15 years.

From the AFP article that we found at Google News, we find out more about the statement from UNAIDS.

"The world economic recession is pushing countries... to enforce austerity," UNAIDS chief Michel Sidibe said in Tokyo, calling on Japan to keep up its financial support to the public-private Global Fund.

The head of the United Nations agency has in recent days stressed the need for the international community to mobilize 10 billion dollars for universal access to HIV prevention, treatment, care and support.

"Governments and donors are second-guessing in terms of their budget and priorities," he told a Tokyo press conference. "For the first time in 15 years, we are seeing the global commitment beginning to falter."

Many patients, particularly in Africa, still struggle to receive expensive care that often requires skills of highly trained professionals, Sidibe said.