SA pledges R36m to Global Fund
8 September 2005
At its third replenishment meeting in London this week, the Global Fund to Fight Aids, Tuberculosis and Malaria received pledges totalling US$3.7-billion (R23.8-billion) over the next two years from 29 countries and organisations.
South Africa's contribution to the pledges was R36-million.
The fund was created to increase resources to fight three of the world's most devastating diseases, and to direct those resources to areas of greatest need. A financial instrument, not an implementing entity, it works in partnership with governments, civil society, the private sector and communities.
"The pledges will go a long way towards ensuring the longer-term sustainability of the Global Fund," said United Nations secretary-general Kofi Annan, who chaired the meeting.
"They will help countries establish comprehensive programmes to fight Aids, TB and malaria and will provide us all with an important source of hope and encouragement for the
future; hope that we can make major progress in reversing the spread of Aids and other infectious diseases."
South African Health Minister Manto Tshabalala-Msimang told the meeting that the country's R36-million pledge was in addition to domestic spending.
"In addition to making a contribution to the Global Fund, we have made a commitment to invest a significant amount of our domestic resources into the fight against HIV/Aids, tuberculosis and malaria," she said.
In the 2003/04 financial year, the South African government spent R900-million on fighting HIV/Aids and TB. This increased to R1.2-billion in 2004/05 and reached R1.5-billion in the current financial year.
The replenishment process
The meeting was the last of three to assess the fund's performance and resource needs, following meetings in Stockholm and Rome earlier in the year.
"This is the first time the Global Fund has attempted a formal replenishment process,"
said Richard Feachem, the fund's executive director. "It has been a success and makes us hopeful we will reach our total needs by 2007."
The Global Fund has so far committed $3.7-billion to over 300 programmes in 127 countries. Around 60% of this funding has gone to Africa, and 55% to fighting HIV/Aids.
Around half the funding is being spent on medicines, mosquito nets and other products to prevent malaria, while the rest is for strengthening health services.
While the average Global Fund grant is only 15 month sold, substantial results have already been achieved, with 220 000 people having been given treatment for HIV/Aids, 600 000 people having received TB treatment and more than three million families having received insecticide-treated mosquito nets to prevent malaria.
Effective spending
Participants stressed that increased funding must be accompanied by improved coordination between donors, and sufficient technical
assistance to ensure funds are spent effectively.
"It is important that the Global Fund continues to work well, and gets the money to where it is needed," said Hilary Benn, UK secretary of state for international development. "That is why the UK is a strong supporter of the work being done to measure the results of what the Global Fund is achieving."
The amount pledged by the 29 donors was over half the total $7-billion (R44.2-billion) needed for the two-year period. Several major donors said their budget procedures prevent firm pledges for the full two-year period. Another meeting will therefore be held in June 2006 to secure additional pledges.
"These pledges are a strong base for continued funding for the fund's programmes, and will allow us to expand funding for new programmes to fight the diseases," said Carol Jacobs, chairperson of the Global Fund's board.
"It begins to close the gap in meeting our financial needs and gives encouragement for future
fund-raising efforts."
Source: BuaNews
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