The Clinton Health Care Initiative has been bringing medical care and much needed medications to HIV infected individuals throughout the world. HIV AIDS health care systems are able to purchase in bulk much needed medicines at reduced volume prices. Unfortunately, at least two thirds of the world’s population in third world countries and poorer nations do not have access to these medications. The down turn of the global economy has dramatically reduced the amount of aid to these countries. The money to help people suffering with HIV and AIDS has been depleted and the ability to fight this epidemic is at an all time low with a combination of lower funding and resources.
During its establishment in 2002, CHAI was only able to provide treatment to a fraction of the people it serves today. The price of treatments for each individual was detrimentally high and there were other difficulties in providing medical support as well as the actual medicine. Today more than six million individuals can obtain treatment and the price of treatments per individuals has been reduced from $10,000 dollars in 2002, to $100 and $200 today. CHAI has directed much of its efforts to providing aid to South Africa, which has the highest level of HIV/AIDS infected population in the world. As of 2010 the Clinton HIV/AIDS Initiative has become a separate entity from the CHAI foundation. This was done to focus directly on the HIV/AIDS epidemic, while CHAI has broadened its scope by fighting malaria as part of its worldwide mission.
In the United States HIV aids health care systems reflect the inadequacies in the nation’s health care system. There have been enormous strides in the HIV AIDS health care process, but the available funds are not enough to provide care for everyone affected with HIV/AIDS. Lower income infected continues to live without medications for the treatment of HIV/AIDS. Currently the budget for HIV and related health care services can only treat half the people infected. More services are needed to educate people about the spread of HIV/AIDS and the availability of confidential testing services ro prevent further spread . HIV/AIDS remains in epidemic proportions; more funding is needed to stem the tide of this life threatening disease.