News Releases
Global Fund Approves Emergency Funding to Protect HIV and TB Services in Venezuela Following Earthquakes
GENEVA – The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (the Global Fund) has approved US$1.77 million in emergency funding to help protect lifesaving HIV and tuberculosis (TB) services in Venezuela following two powerful earthquakes that struck the country on 24 June, killing more than 4,000 people, injuring and displacing thousands more, and disrupting health services.
The Global Fund’s emergency funding will focus on maintaining uninterrupted treatment for people living with HIV and TB while restoring prevention, diagnosis and follow-up services in the affected areas. Implemented through the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the funding will also support community outreach, telemedicine and laboratory services during the emergency response.
The earthquakes, measuring 7.2 and 7.5 magnitude, were followed by more than 500 aftershocks, damaging health facilities, disrupting essential infrastructure and forcing thousands of people into temporary shelters. More than 9.7 million people have been affected, with an estimated 31,000 people living with HIV and 2,400 people receiving TB treatment at risk of interruptions to care if services are not rapidly restored.
“Disasters like these test the resilience of health systems, putting the health of people living in the affected communities at risk,” said Mark Edington, Head of Grant Management at the Global Fund. “By acting quickly with our partners, we can help ensure that an earthquake does not erase good recent progress against HIV and tuberculosis by supporting health services to continue delivering the care people depend on.”
The investment is expected to maintain continuity of HIV treatment for approximately 7,000 people, sustain TB treatment for 500 people, and support prevention, testing and outreach services for 1,500 people from key and vulnerable populations in the areas most severely affected by the disaster.
The emergency funding will be integrated into the Global Fund’s existing HIV and TB grant in Venezuela.