Poll shows U.S. residents want more AIDS drugs for developing nations

A new poll by Harris Interactive and Wall Street Journal Online shows that about 75% of Americans say they think the U.S. government should do more to help HIV-positive people in developing nations access anti-HIV drugs, including generic medications, The Wall Street Journal reports. The poll of 2,169 U.S. adults showed that 58% think the AIDS pandemic has gotten worse during the past five years, that 79% strongly or somewhat agree that comprehensive sex education that includes condom instruction and needle-exchange programs are needed in the fight against the disease, and that 85% say the Food and Drug Administration should work more quickly to bring HIV treatments to the market. Survey participants also said the international five-year, $15 billion President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief should focus most of its resources on HIV prevention and assistance for AIDS orphans; PEPFAR currently spends more than half its funds on antiretroviral treatment programs, with only 20% going to HIV prevention efforts.