Gates Foundation to promote US global spending

By JULIE PACE

The Associated Press

WASHINGTON — The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation is launching a campaign to highlight the U.S. government's efforts to improve global health.

The concept for the Living Proof Project came straight from Bill Gates, the co-founder of Microsoft Corp., and his wife, who felt the American people weren't getting the message about the impact U.S.-supported initiatives were having in the developing world.

"We want to show Americans that their investments in global health are working," Gates said in a statement announcing the campaign.

The project, launching on Thursday, includes an advertising campaign in Washington and a Web site with personal stories from people who have benefited from U.S. programs.

Support for global health programs increased significantly under former President George W. Bush, who created the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, called PEPFAR.

The five-year, $15 billion plan began in 2003 with the goal of expanding prevention, treatment and support programs in 15 hard-hit countries. PEPFAR is credited with saving an estimated 1.2 million lives.

Last year, Congress passed and Bush signed legislation to triple spending from to $48 billion over five years.

Though the U.S. is the largest single donor to the developing world, the money spent on global health assistance amounts to less than one percent of the nation's budget.

Cynthia Lewis, a senior program officer at The Gates Foundation, said Americans are getting a great return for their investment.

"It's an untold story," she said. "A small investment is really empowering many lives in developing countries."

Though the goal of the Living Proof Project is to show what U.S. aid has already accomplished, Lewis said that doesn't mean the work is over.

"There are millions more in need," she said.

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On the Net:

Living Proof Project: www.livingproofproject.org

Gates Foundation: www.gatesfoundation.org

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September 24, 2009 09:11 AM EDT

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