Calls for Help Exceed Global AIDS Fund Resources
Originally published by Reuters Health, March 25, 2002
GENEVA (Reuters) — Developing countries are seeking $1.15 billion this year from the Global Fund to fight AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria, some 50% more than the international venture has available, the Fund said on Monday.
Africa, the continent most affected by the killer diseases, had made the largest number of requests, totalling $641 million spread over 36 countries, it said in a statement.
The Global Fund, which was officially launched last year to spearhead the world's fight against scourges that kill six million people a year, set an early March deadline for the presentation of initial proposals for financing.
The venture, a key project of UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan, has so far had pledges of support for $1.9 billion from developed countries and private donors of which some $700-800 million would be available for use in 2002.
A special technical panel will examine the funding proposals—covering prevention, treatment, care and support of the infected and those directly affected—at a March 25-April 5 meeting in Geneva to see whether they meet all criteria.
The Fund's board in New York will take a final decision later in April.
Despite the fact that there might not be enough money to cover all needs, the Fund said that its launch had boosted by 50% the amount of financing available for the developing world to battle the diseases.
"Without the Global Fund, total expenditures from all sources to fight HIV/AIDS, TB and malaria in the developing world would be approximately $1.6 billion in 2002. By disbursing $700-800 million, the Fund will effectively increase global spending by 50%," it said.
According to figures from the Geneva-based organisation, there are some 40 million people living with HIV, the virus that causes full-blown AIDS. In seven countries in sub-Saharan Africa, over 20% of all adults are infected with HIV.
There are 300 to 500 million malaria cases each year, leading to more than one million deaths, while tuberculosis will claim at least 30 million lives in the next 10 years, primarily in developing countries, according to Fund estimates.
