When heads of state talk about development, there is almost always a corresponding reaction. And the joint statement made by U.S. President Barack Obama and U.K. Prime Minister David Cameron is no exception.
The two leaders announced their renewed commitment to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria in a statement published at The Washington Post. They said they are working to improve maternal health and end preventable deaths among children, as well as investing in agriculture to ensure food security in the developing world.
ONE President and CEO Michael Elliot welcomed this commitment by the two heads of state, who said they embrace their responsibility as leaders in the kind of development that helps people live in dignity, health and prosperity.
But good as these may all be for the development community, critics and budget hawks are sure to express outrage — especially with the commitment coming at a time of soaring deficits.
Read more development aid news online, and subscribe to The Development Newswire to receive top international development headlines from the world’s leading donors, news sources and opinion leaders — emailed to you FREE every business day.
About the author
Jenny Lei Ravelo@JennyLeiRavelo
Jenny Lei Ravelo is a Devex Senior Reporter based in Manila. She covers global health, with a particular focus on the World Health Organization, and other development and humanitarian aid trends in Asia Pacific. Prior to Devex, she wrote for ABS-CBN, one of the largest broadcasting networks in the Philippines, and was a copy editor for various international scientific journals. She received her journalism degree from the University of Santo Tomas.
