OF NOTE THIS WEEK

Without a drastic change in approach, the AIDS epidemic will still be out of control on its 50th anniversary in 2031, says an analysis published Tuesday in the journal Health Affairs, the New York Times reports. Models suggest that funding required for developing countries to address the pandemic could triple from current levels to $35 billion annually, but wise policy choices focusing on high-impact prevention and efficient treatment could cut costs by half, write the panel of AIDS experts who authored the report. Investments in new prevention tools and major behavior-change efforts are needed to spur more rapid advances.

Also of interest this week, please see here for Professor Alan Whiteside’s response to the Guardian article "Experts want African aids funds channeled away from HIV: Focus on AIDS, they say has led to neglect of other fatal conditions killing young children" highlighted last week in our newsletter. Professor Whiteside, Director of HEARD (Health, Economics & Research Division) and one of those quoted in the above article explains that his views were misrepresented and that the article itself contained several contradictions.

NEWS AND HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE DONORS

• PEPFAR unveils Web site for World AIDS Day
• The World Bank extends invitations for its World AIDS Day program in Washington, D.C.

OTHER NEWS AND HIGHLIGHTS

• New Report Puts Forth Proposals for U.S. Global Health Initiative (VOA News)
• Uganda's Outrageous New Sex Law (Foreign Policy)
• Mozambique: Quiet Progress Against HIV/AIDS (IPS)
• Uganda: Roll Out Massive Community-Based HIV Campaigns (New Vision)
• As Donors Focus on AIDS, Child Illnesses Languish (NY Times)
• Think Africa’s Disease Burden Is HIV? Think Again (Global Health)

RECENT CGD HEALTH POLICY BLOGS

• Young People's Health: Filling in the Blanks By Ruth Levine
• Heads Up for the U.S. Global Health Initiative: EU Moving Faster? By David Wendt
• Will the New White House Initiative for Rigorous Evaluation Elicit a Response from the U.S. Foreign Assistance Agencies? By Mead Over

HIV/AIDS MONITOR RECOMMENDATIONS AND POLICY IMPACT

• The HIV/AIDS Monitor has been tracking the policy changes among PEPFAR, the Global Fund and the World Bank MAP related to the recommendations that have come out of our research. Explore these changes using our interactive flash tool.