Although former President Bush signed into action the largest American foreign aid program ever, the media has overlooked how he out-did every U.S. president in his commitment to combat AIDS. Under Bush's program, the President's Emergency Plan for Aids Relief (PEPFAR), over two million lives have been saved; the program has prevented 240,000 babies from becoming infected by the virus through their mothers; and, it has also supported care for nearly 11 million people affected by HIV, including 3.6 million children.
PEPFAR began in 2003 with $15 billion pledged for the first five years. When Bush came to office in 2001, the U.S. spent a seemingly meager $1.4 billion on humanitarian aid to Africa. However, since the program's renewal in 2008, the funds have more than tripled, reaching $48 billion committed to AIDS relief over the next five years. While the funds have been targeted at three main goals of AIDS treatment, prevention, and care, its effects have reached far beyond these objectives. The Guardian wrote that "The vast sums spent by Pepfar have meant that its impact has been felt far beyond those with HIV. Doctors say the programme is rejuvenating health systems by training nurses, buying equipment and building clinics that deal with more than the pandemic."
It seems strangely out of place, that on a day meant to acknowledge those suffering from HIV/AIDS, there has not been a single mention of arguably the largest humanitarian effort ever made on its behalf. Regardless of public sentiment towards Bush, his work in assisting Africa and the Caribbean surpasses any previous endeavor, and the accomplishments of his program stand out as a great acheivement in fighting the pandemic. Whether we choose to blame it on our short-term memory or the failure of the media to remind us, an effort that has saved millions of lives and assisted countless more certainly warrants acknowledgment.
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