Poll Finds 74 Percent of Likely Voters Support Pepfar Funding

U.S. midterm elections support funding the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, known as Pepfar. The same survey showed that voters are more likely to support candidates who back the program. Four in five respondents said there is a moral argument for providing lifesaving HIV treatment to people at risk for or living with the disease, regardless of personal choices.

When voters who were initially unfamiliar with Pepfar received additional information, overall support rose.

Pepfar was established in 2003.

Congress has repeatedly moved to preserve the program in recent months. On 5 May the State Department announced it would retain nearly all Pepfar funds rather than split them with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Under the new arrangement the CDC is slated to receive 7 percent of the funds, or $150 million, instead of as much as $2 billion.

6 billion reduction in HIV prevention funding.

Jennifer Kates, senior vice-president at KFF, said the poll results align with earlier surveys showing bipartisan popularity for the program. S. global health efforts even amid economic concerns. Asia Russell, executive director of Health Gap, said the shift to country-by-country agreements raises questions about oversight and tracking of taxpayer funds.