The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis (TB) and Malaria reported Thursday a more than 40 percent increase in the number of people receiving treatment for AIDS and tuberculosis with its support in just six months, citing expertise at cutting through bureaucracy and developing programs that work, reports the World Bank press review Friday.
Programs supported by the fund have also distributed a total of 11,3 million insecticide-treated bed nets, among the most effective ways to prevent malaria infection, according to a report released ahead of a meeting to assess progress fighting the global epidemics. …
At least 544.000 people have started on life-prolonging AIDS medicines and 1,4 million are being treated for tuberculosis through programs support by the fund, up from 384.000 and 1 million respectively in December, officials said in Johannesburg.
The figures have more than doubled since the same period last year. The potential for rapid progress is even greater in the battle against malaria, where concentrated investments have significantly reduced mortality in less than two years, the report said.
Nevertheless, the Global Fund, which relies primarily on government contributions, is in a precarious financial position and in need of almost 1 billion US dollar (5,8 milliarder DKR) to meet existing commitments, according to a fund report.
Founded 4-1/2 years ago to serve as the primary financing vehicle for efforts to fight the HIV/AIDS pandemic as well as tuberculosis and malaria, the fund has committed a total of 5,4 billion dollar in grants – primarily in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Since its inception, however, the fund has struggled to persuade rich nations to contribute — a battle which continues despite repeated calls to action from groups such as the Group of Eight developed countries.
The Global Fund meet in South Africa from Saturday to mull its progress and see how it could better spend donations. A grouping of stakeholder parties including donor and recipient governments, meet in the eastern port city Durban for three days.
Also included in the meeting will be civil society, fund board members, development, technical and research agencies, foundations and the corporate sector, organizers said.
Although the Durban gathering was not a donor pledge meeting, Spokesman Jon Liden was hopeful that some new money would be raised from the about 400 delegates attending from 115 countries.
The East African Standard (Kenya) notes that the Global Fund has requested proposals from countries hardest hit by HIV/Aids, tuberculosis and malaria. This is the funds sixth call for proposals from non-governmental, faith-based and community-based organizations, and research and academic institutions. The closing date for the submissions is August 3.
Priority areas for TB include strengthening health systems capacity and management for effective and efficient delivery of quality activities for the fight against the disease.
For malaria, priorities include strengthening interventions of the National Malaria Strategy and emphasizing community participation.
Priorities for HIV/Aids include interventions for the prevention of mother-to-child transmission and treatment for people living with the disease.
Kilde: www.worldbank.org
