Update September 25, 2012 - amfAR has recalculated estimates from our July 2012 issue
brief on the human impact of budget sequestration on global health. The new estimates are based on the OMB
Sequestration Transparency report released on September 14, 2012, and passage
of a Continuing Resolution in the US Congress. (The original brief is available at: http://www.amfar.org/uploadedFiles/_amfarorg/In_The_Community/SequestrationJuly2012.pdf )
These new numbers reflect the OMB estimate of an 8.2%
across-the-board funding cut to most non-defense discretionary programs using
FY 2012 appropriations levels. As we
found in our earlier brief, applying sequestration cuts to US government global
health programming would have minimal impact on deficit reduction, but would be
devastating to the lives of many thousands of people globally.
As a result of sequestration of US Government bilateral
support:
- HIV/AIDS treatment for 276,500 people will not be available, potentially leading to 63,000 more AIDS-related deaths and 124,000 more children becoming orphans.
- 112,500
fewer HIV-positive pregnant women will receive PMTCT services, leading to
more than 21,000 infants being
infected with HIV.
- Funding for food, education, and livelihood
assistance will not be available for nearly 359,000 children.
- 2.2
million fewer insecticide-treated nets will be procured, leading to nearly 6,000 deaths due to malaria; 3.6 million fewer people will receive
treatment.
- 60,000
fewer people with TB will receive treatment, leading to 7,000 more deaths due to TB; 300 fewer people with MDR-TB will
receive treatment.
- 1.3
million fewer pentavalent vaccines for children will be available through
GAVI, leading to 14,000 more deaths
from diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, Haemophilus influenza type B, and
hepatitis B.
As a result of sequestration of contributions to the Global
Fund to Fight AIDS, TB, and Malaria:
- 2.5
million fewer insecticide-treated nets will be available, leading to 6,500 deaths from malaria.
- 88,000
fewer TB patients will receive treatment, leading to 11,000 more TB deaths.
- An additional 100,000 people will not be treated for HIV/AIDS.