Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 2002. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
San Francisco Chronicle - Tuesday, November 26, 2002
Eric Goosby, Pat Christen
The earliest years of the epidemic in San Francisco were characterized by fear, confusion and anger. Fear, because so many young and otherwise healthy gay men were becoming ill and dying. Confusion, because it was not known why these horrible deaths were occurring. Anger, because of inaction on the part of the federal government and descriptions by a few vocal and misguided religious leaders that the disease was God's punishment for the "homosexual lifestyle."
Fortunately, San Francisco refused to simply allow its citizens to perish. The city government, under the leadership of then-Mayor Dianne Feinstein, committed the first government dollars to the fight against AIDS. Community- based groups like the San Francisco AIDS Foundation (initially called the Kaposi's Sarcoma Research and Education Foundation) were formed. Full-fledged advocacy efforts, community mobilizing efforts, and volunteer-based support geared up.
We made the case by our actions, by our words, and by our donations that something must be done. We made the case that this was not just "San Francisco's problem." This was a national priority with unacceptable and horrifying consequences if left unchecked, and we helped create a national response.
More than two decades later, we find ourselves faced with a similar challenge in the developing world, on a much broader scale: 50 million people infected worldwide, 95 percent of whom live in the developing world.
So, we must ask ourselves the same question we asked others in the early '80s. Do we believe those with HIV in the developing world should simply be left to die? Do we believe those in the developing world should be forced to shoulder the disproportionate burden created by HIV in their nations?
In the early years of the epidemic in San Francisco, we insisted, rightfully so, that people not be abandoned, that the community and the city government do their part, but also that the rest of the nation assist us. As we do with other natural disasters like floods, drought and fire, we do not expect communities or states devastated by such calamities to shoulder the burden alone. The government commits resources to help share these burdens nationally.
So, too, must we engage in the global pandemic. Developing-world nations certainly must do their part. But like the Bay Area community in the earliest years of this fight, these nations need other assistance. If we insisted others not turn their backs on us, we cannot now turn our backs on the developing world.
In this spirit, a handful of western governments, including the United States, have committed $1.5 billion to the Global Fund for AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria -- initiated in 2000 through the United Nations under Secretary- General Kofi Annan.
While a start, the current financial commitment is far too little. Funds from this effort are just beginning to move into developing countries, particularly to provide access to life-sustaining AIDS drugs. It is estimated, however, that at least $7 billion to $10 billion a year is needed to prevent and treat HIV on a global scale.
If it so chooses, there is no doubt that the western world can meet this financial and moral obligation. The time is long overdue to face the global devastation of AIDS, particularly in developing nations. The simple truth is their fight is ours. Their world is ours. Their disease isours. Their future is ours.
Eric Goosby is CEO of Pangaea Global AIDS Foundation. Pat Christen is executive director of the San Francisco AIDS Foundation and president of Pangaea.
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