Article

Legislative Update

Administration Position On Prostitution And Trafficking Language
The White House announced, in early June, a policy shift with potentially damaging consequences for U.S.-based AIDS organizations working abroad. The policy change requires U.S.-based organizations receiving federal funds for their overseas AIDS work to pledge that they oppose prostitution and sex trafficking. This requirement previously applied to foreign organizations receiving U.S. funds, but this will be the first time the condition applies to U.S.-based organizations. Multi-national organizations such as the Global Fund for AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria and United Nations agencies are exempt from this requirement.

Defenders of the policy say that it simply implements a policy outlined in P.L. 108-25, the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR). Those opposed to the policy say that it clearly violates U.S. freedom of speech rights and impedes work with commercial sex workers.

Countless U.S.-based organizations – and Global Health Council members – are subject to this new policy requirement.

58th World Health Assembly
"There is no bigger test for humanity than the crisis of global health."
– Bill Gates, May 16, 2005
58th World Health Assembly

The 58th World Health Assembly (WHA) met in Geneva, Switzerland May 16–25 to address global health topics ranging from progress on polio eradication and preparedness for a potential influenza pandemic to the establishment of June 14 as World Blood Donor Day.

This year's assembly featured key addresses from the President of the Republic of Maldives, Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, who discussed the destruction caused by the December 2004 tsunami; Bill Gates, CEO of Microsoft, who spoke to the essential role of science and technology for a healthy future; and the new executive director of UNICEF, Ann Veneman, who stressed the importance of child survival in the global health agenda.

This annual meeting is attended by delegations from all of the World Health Organization's (WHO) 192 member states and is used to identify WHO's organizational and financial policies and appoint the director-general. The Global Health Council led a delegation of 20 civil society representatives and worked with countries on key resolutions including ones addressing the Millennium Development Goals and HIV/AIDS. A highlight of key resolutions of the Assembly are outlined in the table below.

As a majority of agencies and organizations around the world look to WHO for program and policy guidance, the resolutions passed this year set a clear vision for public health priorities in 2005–2006. For a complete listing of resolutions and related documentation, visit http://www.who.int/gb/e/e_wha58.html .

Resolution/ Agenda Item	Topic	Description
WHA 58.2 Agenda Item 13.2	Malaria	Called on WHO to intensify its collaboration with member states to reach internationally agreed malaria control goals, including the possibility of WHO undertaking bulk purchases of insecticide-treated nets and anti-malarial medicines.
WHA 58.14 Agenda Item 13.4	TB Prevention & Control	Called on member states to establish collaborations between TB and HIV programs and to integrate TB prevention and control into the core of their health development plans.
WHA 58.31 Agenda Item 13.2	Health of Women, Newborns & Children	Called on member states to commit resources and to accelerate national action toward universal access and coverage with maternal, newborn and child health interventions through reproductive health care.
WHAT 58.17 Agenda Item 13.21	Health Care Worker Migration	Called on the director-general to address the migration and recruitment of health personnel, particularly highly trained and skilled health personnel, from developing to developed countries as a major challenge for health systems in developing countries.

G8 Meeting
On July 6–8, 2005, heads of state from the 'Group of Eight,' or G8, nations met in Gleneagles, Scotland, for the 31st G8 Summit. This year's meeting, hosted by G8 President and British Prime Minister Tony Blair, focused on the challenges of Africa and climate control. The Summit agenda also included discussions around counter-terrorism, non-proliferation and reform for the broader Middle East region and Northern Africa.

As the official summit neared, G8 members began to announce proposals and potential initiatives including a historic deal announced in London to write-off more than $40 billion of debt owed by the world's poorest nations. President Bush also indicated his commitment to Africa by announcing $674 million in U.S. humanitarian relief (targeted at famine relief). The President also pledged to African leaders more rapid aid to the continent by certifying more countries for the thus far underutilized Millennium Challenge Account. Of greatest note to the global health community, on June 30, the President announced a $1.2 billion initiative to fight malaria – a major killer of children in sub-Saharan Africa. The initiative aims to increase coverage to 85 percent and reduce malaria deaths by 50 percent in at least 15 targeted African countries. According to the administration, more than 175 million people will benefit from this initiative. Global spending on malaria is currently estimated at $600 million, of which the U.S. is estimated to spend $200 million. The global need to combat malaria is estimated at $3.5 billion. While the announcement met with enthusiasm among the malaria community, it must be noted that this five-year initiative is, at this point, only a plan. It must be approved and appropriated by the U.S. Congress to secure actual funding each year toward the $1.2 billion announcement.

At the G8 Summit, the leaders of the eight member countries* discuss key issues of the day and look to reach informal agreements on measures that can be taken individually, but in a cooperative manner, to achieve their goals more effectively. At each Summit, leaders agree upon certain initiatives. To date, meetings have been held annually since 1975 and have lead to key outcomes including the establishment of the Global Fund for AIDS, TB and Malaria.

Initiative Focus

• Expanded access to long-lasting insecticide treated nets.


• Scale-up the supply of artemisenin combination therapy (ACT) treatments.


• Provide for intermittent treatment for pregnant women.