European Commission mobilizes €58M to Global Fund against HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria

The European Commission has today paid €58 million to the Global Fund to fight against AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria in developing countries, bringing its total contribution to the fund since 2002 to €432.5 million. The contribution enables the Global Fund to boost prevention, treatment and care in order to accelerate the urgently needed response to these three diseases.

Commissioner for Development and Humanitarian Aid, Louis Michel, said: "HIV/AIDS Is a major obstacle to development, notably in sub-Saharan Africa. The international community must help Governments of developing countries to meet this challenge. The European Commission is committed to playing its part and I am thus pleased to announce this additional contribution of 58 million euros for the Global Fund."

An estimated 6 million people die every year from AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria, and the figures are increasing. In response to this situation, the Global Fund was established in 2002. It is a financing mechanism to attract, manage and disburse additional resources to the fight against HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria in developing countries where these so-called 'poverty diseases' are most prevalent.

With the full support of the Member States and the European Parliament, the Commission has allocated in total more than € 1.1 billion to fight the three poverty-related diseases (HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria) from 2003 - 2006. This represents an almost four-fold increase compared to the allocations in the period 1996 - 2002 to the fight against the three diseases. The Commission is the second largest contributor to the Global Fund.

The Global Fund has so far committed US$ 3.5 billion to over 300 programs in 127 countries. Around 60 percent of this funding has gone to Africa, and 55 percent to fighting HIV/AIDS. Around half of the funding is being spent on medicines, mosquito nets to prevent malaria and other products, while the other half is for strengthening health services. The programs are on track to meet combined targets over five years of 1.6 million people on AIDS treatment and 3.5 million people treated for TB.

More information: http://www.europa.eu.int/comm/development/body/theme/human_social/pol_health1_en.htm

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