UNITAID: Global and Mandatory

UNITAID is a non-profit institution launched by the United Nations and The World Health Organization in 2006 to provide health care services against HIV, malaria and tuberculosis in developing countries. Its program is funded by a voluntary contribution made by travelers when purchasing an airline ticket; these funds are collected by travel agencies or online companies and sent to UNITAID. Some countries such as: France, Brazil and Norway led the initiative when this program began, by establishing a small contribution as mandatory in every airfare; however, these donations remain voluntary for other countries across the world (Annan launches, 2006). Now, we must all join this cause and follow the example of those countries who prompted this program from the start and implement a mandatory airfare contribution to UNITAID; hence, raising more money worldwide and helping millions of people.

According to Mr. Douste – Blazy, United Nations Under-Secretary for Innovative Finance for Development, due to the financial crisis “government support for development aid is decreasing”. In fact, this statement was confirmed last month when the United Nations reported a downfall of $35 billion dollars in donations (Strom, 2009). As a result, the fundraising must be carried out efficiently and continuously, in order to provide the necessary medical services for poor people who will not be able to receive it otherwise. In addition, by joining the fight against HIV/ AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis, we will also be helping to achieve one of the United Nations Millennium Development Goals.

Moreover, by contributing to the UNIATID program, some of the funds could be diverted to provide medical care for other major health issues such as breast and cervix cancer. According to the American Cancer Society, the number of deaths from breast cancer is estimated to be over 40,000 by the end of the year (2009). There is a strong need to increase the medical services provided worldwide, and we must acknowledge that medicines and treatments for these diseases are very expensive. For instance, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that in 2005 more than $2 billion dollars were spent only in the US for treatments for cervical cancer (Cervical Cancer, 2009). Some may argue that the funds for these programs should be deducted from each government’s budget in order to avoid an economic impact on the end user of the airline services. Furthermore, we could even consider taxing other products such as alcohol or cigarettes to provide economic aid for these health care programs. However, the travel and tourism industry is one of the world’s largest industries, and its customers are a potential audience for fundraising. According to the Global Business Coalition on HIV/AIDS, with a minimum contribution of $1 dollar per airline ticket, this program could increase over $1 billion dollars within the next four years without having an impact whatsoever on any government’s budget (Stearns, 2009). Moreover, the income from cigarettes and alcohol taxes should be diverted to other well known health issues such as respiratory and coronary diseases, which may be produced as secondary effects of these products. In contrast, the UNITAID program can focus on HIV, malaria and tuberculosis which are on the world’s top ten causes of death, by helping many people with limited resources.

To conclude, UNITAID`S fundraising must be made mandatory worldwide in order to fight HIV, malaria and tuberculosis in poor countries. In addition, by making a contribution to this program, some of the funds may even be used in the struggle against other health problems such as cervix and breast cancer. Currently, over 2 million people are receiving treatment for HIV, and other 5 million were treated for tuberculosis thanks to this health care program (Fighting AIDS, 2009). Finally, we must consider that in some parts of the world people survive daily with a few dollars, but we can make a difference by donating only $1 dollar to the UNITAID program and save many lives.

Mabell Bonilla