Global Fund Sets $2.4 Billion To Fight Against AIDS, Malaria, TB
from Windsor Genova, AHN News Writer:
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia (AHN) - The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria has set a $2.4 billion grant to implement its program in the next two years. "These grants enable countries around the world to address some of the main problems they are struggling with every day," said Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Ethiopian Health Minister and Chair of the Global Fund Board, in a press release. "These grants are based on the countries' own needs and priorities and they are therefore a particularly effective source of financing." The Global Fund's board of directors will launch the grants in May next year. Meanwhile, the Fund revealed that it approved a program to reduce prices for effective malaria medicines in nine African countries and Cambodia through a $216 million funding from UNITAID, the United Kingdom government and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. Formed in 2002, the Global Fund is the dominant financier of programs to fight AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria. It has $ 18.4 billion in grants for more than 600 programs in 144 countries saving 4.5 million lives through AIDS treatment for 2.3 million people, anti-tuberculosis treatment for 5.4 million people and the distribution of 88 million insecticide-treated bed nets for the prevention of malaria.