At The Boston Globe Michael Gerson has a column on AIDS in the developing world, focuding on Africa. Embracing neither foolish optimism nor outsized pessimism Gerson argues that a cobination of approaches will be required to stanch a disease that is still spreading at a faster rate than it can be prevented:
Treatment and prevention, in the end, cannot be separated. And the goal of universal access to treatment seems morally unavoidable. However expensive this commitment might be, there is also a cost to letting 40 million people or more die – a cost the world should not be willing to pay. But we also need to be realistic about the nature of this commitment. Defeating AIDS will require major new efforts on prevention. And moving toward universal treatment, according to the United Nations, will require between $32 billion and $51 billion by 2010. America has done much – and still we face an ocean of need.
It's easy to caricature calls for more money for Africa. But AIDS is one of those issues that shows how aid money really can and does make a difference. The continent needs more financial support to help it to attain very reachable goals. The discussion should never be only about giving money, but such aid should continue be in the equation in light of the West's persistent underdevelopment of Africa.
