Talk Radio News Service: News, Politics, Media

By Sofia Sanchez
University of New Mexico/Talk Radio News Service

Former President Bill Clinton along with Microsoft CEO Bill Gates testified before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee Wednesday in favor of legislation that would increase support for President Barack Obama’s Global Health Initiative (GHI).

The President’s FY2011 budget calls for $9.5 billion to be designated for the GHI. Although this number would make the U.S. the world's largest contributor financially to fighting global health issues, it may not be a realistic endeavor for the administration to take on right now.

Clinton and Gates recognized the country has a tight budget to work with next year, but stressed the importance of adequately funding the GHI.

“It is a very good bill, and I think it is the next logical step,” said Clinton. "But it reflects the budget constraints under which Congress labors.

The GHI would focus on worldwide HIV/AIDS prevention, family health, life-saving vaccines, science and technology innovation and tackling poverty.

Clinton said developing nations need to be able to get on “their own two feet, and move away from being dependent," in order to address their own health needs.

“24 percent of the world's health care problems are in Africa and only three percent of medical personnel are [there],” said the former President.

However, recruiting and training medical personnel in developing countries is one of the goals within the GHI. “Its purpose is to help the world’s poorest people lift themselves out of hunger and poverty,” said Gates, who recently reclaimed his title of world's richest man.