The following is from an editorial in The New York Times:
International health agencies at the United Nations have documented enormous gains the past decade to curb three devastating diseases: AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria. Yet, a big gap remains between what has been accomplished and what more could be done with sufficient financing.
The World Health Organization estimates global efforts to control and eliminate malaria has cut the mortality rate by 45 percent globally and by 49 percent in Africa between 2000 and 2012. There were an estimated 627,000 malaria deaths in 2012, a vast majority in sub-Saharan Africa.
The main weapons against malaria are insecticide-treated bed nets to ward off mosquitoes and drugs for those who become ill. In sub-Saharan Africa, much less than half of the population had access to nets this year, and millions lack access to tests and drug treatments. Global financing for malaria control reached an estimated $2.5 billion in 2012, just under half what's needed.
Tuberculosis control has followed a similar trajectory. WHO reports the TB death rate has fallen by 45 percent since 1990.
The pattern is repeated fighting the virus that causes AIDS. A U.N. agency estimates new HIV infections among adults and children totaled 2.3 million in 2012, a 33 percent drop since 2001, and that AIDS-related deaths totaled 1.6 million, a drop of 30 percent from a 2005 peak, mostly because more patients had gained access to antiviral drugs. An estimated 35 million people, mostly in sub-Saharan Africa, are infected and only about 10 million are being treated.
Pledges by nations to help have fallen short. It will be shameful if millions are left to die while donors look the other way.