US citizens support global health help

The majority of the US public are behind continuing or expanding funding to health initiatives in developing countries, research has found.

Maintaining the current level of help was backed by 39 per cent in the Kaiser Family Foundation poll, with a further 26 per cent urging the US government to increase its efforts to help the world's poorest nations.

There were just 23 per cent who thought the US is spending too much on global health, while 38 per cent claimed that improving health in developing countries should be a "top priority for helping developing countries.

Drew Altman, Kaiser president and chief executive, said: "Support for U.S. aid for global health has shown staying power despite the recession, but it's a critical time to maintain the momentum for development assistance and global health established in recent years.

"There is a glaring need highlighted in these findings to connect aid with results in the public's mind."

However, 71 per cent of respondents agreed that sorting out economic problems at home during the recession should be concentrated on.

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