Lancet Examines Obama Administration’s Progress On HIV/AIDS-Related Campaign Pledges

The July issue of the journal Lancet Infectious Diseases examines whether President Obama is fulfilling his campaign promises to tackle HIV/AIDS abroad and domestically. The article states that Obama's recent appointments of "lauded experts," including Jeffrey Crowley as the new director of the Office of National AIDS Policy, indicate that the U.S. "seems poised to deliver on election promises." Crowley is charged with developing a national strategy for HIV/AIDS aimed at "reducing incidence, increasing the number of people in care, and lowering disparities in care," according to the Lancet. In addition, the Lancet notes other measures the administration has taken to address HIV/AIDS in the U.S., including a joint meeting held in April between the administration, CDC and various federal, civil, and private agencies, at which a new national five-year campaign, "Act Against AIDS," was announced. The Lancet also discussed concerns voiced by advocates and others that available federal funding is not adequate to address the epidemic (Morris, July 2009).