Relief agencies assess impact of international AIDS efforts

Published: 2003-11-20

WASHINGTON (CNS) -- The number of initiatives to combat AIDS in Africa and elsewhere continues to grow, with hopes by many charitable organizations that additional federal funds will increase efforts even further. With an expected $2.4 billion earmarked by Congress to be available next year, religious charities big and small are eager to apply for grants and get to towns and villages to fight the disease. The funding is part of a pledge made by President Bush in last January's State of the Union address to deliver $15 billion in African AIDS prevention and treatment funding over the next five years. "There's lots of new money coming in," said Carl Stecker, Catholic Relief Services' senior technical adviser for HIV/AIDS. Stecker added that CRS, the overseas aid and development arm of the U.S. bishops, is currently working on AIDS relief efforts in 160 cities and towns in 30 countries worldwide with $45 million in grants from various sources. Stecker joined representatives from dozens of religious charities for a Nov. 19-20 conference at Georgetown University in Washington on "Faith-Based Initiatives and the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief."

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