Saving the lives of millions: The world needs round 6 of the Global Fund
02 June 2006
Thursday, June 1 - New York - The Communities of People Living with the Diseases, Developing Country NGOs and Developed Country NGOs delegations of the Board of the Global Fund today expressed their deep concern about the lack of resources needed to fund the fight against HIV/AIDS and called upon donor countries to urgently pledge to the Global Fund.
In order to achieve the targets set out by the UNGASS Declaration of Commitment and Universal Access by 2010, the Global Fund will play an essential role. However, the Fund is at a crossroads today, and there is nearly no money available for funding new programs so urgently required. Round 6 was launched in April, but there is a risk that proposals cannot be approved by the Global Fund Board if sufficient resources are not made available in the next couple of months. For a full funding of Round 6, an estimated 1.1 billion USD is needed. However, for 2006 alone the Fund faces a funding gap of 0.9 billion USD while the total gap for 2006-2007 is 2.1 billion USD.
The Global Fund has shown impressive results to date; more than 540,000 people living with HIV now have access to life-saving antiretroviral treatment through programs the Fund is financing, an increase of 42% compared to December last year. Expected outcomes in the next couple of years of currently funded programs are that more than 1.8 million people will be on antiretroviral therapy, 62 million clients reached with voluntary counselling and testing services for HIV, and over 1 million orphans supported. The Global Fund is at the moment funding more than 350 programs in 131 countries and accounts for 20% of worldwide spending on HIV/AIDS.
"The Global Fund has certainly restored hope in our countries where there was no light at the end of the tunnel," said Liz Mataka (Zambia), Global Fund Board member on behalf of Developing Country NGOs.
"Today, thanks to the Fund more than 540,000 people live with HIV instead of dying because of AIDS. Now is the time to save the millions of people with HIV that are in desperate need of care and treatment", said Javier Hourcade Bellocq (Argentina), on behalf of the Communities of People Living with the Diseases delegation of the Global Fund Board.
However, there is growing concern among civil society organizations that the UN's High Level Meeting on HIV/AIDS will only lead to vague statements that will not lead us any closer to Universal Access in 2010 and reaching the Millennium Development Goals in 2015.
"The need is immediate and it's real - we can make a difference if our leaders commit to funding this innovative funding mechanism," added Ms. Mataka. Mr. Bellocq reiterated, "We can continue to save lives, but we need the Fund to play a large part in this strategy of global coordination. And this means we need money now to fund Round 6 proposals".