*EPF205 01/28/2003
Text: Anti-Disease Projects Win Funding in Seven Countries
(Global Fund awards $108 million to fight HIV/AIDS, TB and malaria) (700)
Seven countries are receiving international financial help to combat disease in the latest round of grants announced by the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria. The Global Fund announced the grants to China, Honduras, Laos, Malawi, Morocco, Panama and Sri Lanka in a January 24 press release.
The seven grants total $108 million and will be devoted to specific projects proposed by the countries for addressing the problems of one or all of the three targeted diseases.
The fund became fully operational just about a year ago. These latest announcements come after similar grants were issued to Ghana, Tanzania and Haiti last year. The aggregate amount granted to the various countries so far totals about $150 million.
The fund is an independent public-private partnership created to generate new financing to be applied to the fight against the diseases and new mechanisms for distributing that aid.
The United States government is the single largest contributor to the fund. Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy G. Thompson is a member of its governing board.
Following is the Global Fund press release:
(begin text)
The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria
24 January 2003
SEVEN COUNTRIES TO RECEIVE $108 MILLION TO FIGHT AIDS, TB AND MALARIA.
Global Fund Announces Signing Of New Grant Agreements.
Geneva, Switzerland - The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria today announced the signings of agreements to fund AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria programs in seven countries critically affected by these diseases. Grant agreements have been signed with China, Honduras, Laos, Malawi, Morocco, Panama and Sri Lanka totaling more than $108 million. These agreements are part of the round one proposals approved by the Board of the Global Fund, which commit $616 million over the next two years.
Richard Feachem, Executive Director of the Global Fund, said, "These signings demonstrate that the systems of the Global Fund are up and running. This is a strong start to 2003 as we take the Fund from operation to achievement, delivering to communities all over the world and supporting the common fight against these three deadly diseases."
Susan Chong from the Asia Pacific Council of AIDS Service Organizations Secretariat in Kuala Lumpur, said of the Laos and China agreements, "I am pleased that money is going to countries in the Asia Pacific region, because the epidemic is accelerating at such a fast pace here and we have to catch it soon."
Ricardo Maduro, President of the Republic of Honduras, said, "Today we are fulfilling our people's mandate. AIDS is a world reality."
Mr. Touhami Khiari, Minister of Health, The Kingdom of Morocco, said, "The commitment of the Global Fund for my country encourages us in the fight against this fearsome plague."
With these latest signings:
--China's malaria and tuberculosis programs are to be intensified with the help of a $28.9 million award.
- Honduras' efforts to sustain its fight against AIDS, TB and malaria are receiving a $20.5 million boost.
--Malawi is to upscale its HIV/AIDS response through the Fund's grant of $41.8 million.
--Morocco's proposal to reinforce its national HIV/AIDS efforts is to benefit from a $4.7 million agreement with the Fund.
--Sri Lanka's plans to intensify its TB and malaria programs are helped by $7.9 million from the Fund.
--Panama's campaign to curb the spread of tuberculosis is strengthened by US$ 440,000.
--The Lao People's Democratic Republic will receive Global Fund support for its HIV and malaria action plans to the sum of $4.5 million.
Along with previously signed agreements with Ghana, Tanzania and Haiti, these latest proposals bring the Global Fund commitments to date to over $150 million. Announcements of more Global Fund grant agreement signings are expected over the next few days amounting to a further $100 million.
The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB and Malaria is an independent, public-private partnership established in 2002 that is working to attract significant new resources to fight AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria, and then to innovatively manage and disburse these funds to effective prevention and treatment programs in countries with greatest need
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(Distributed by the Office of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)
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