PartnersGF - 2004-11-17
Global Fund Secretariat Press Release
17 November 2004
****************
Board to Hear Four African Presidents on Need for Funding to Fight AIDS, TB and Malaria
Decision on Timing for New Round of Grants
Arusha, Tanzania The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malarias ninth board meeting will focus on how increased investments can drive back the three pandemics in one of the worlds worst-affected regions. In its opening session, the Board will hear the views of four East African presidents on the need for increased investments in health if these countries are to maintain economic growth and social development.
Presidents Benjamin W. Mkapa of Tanzania, Yoweri Museveni of Uganda, Mwai Kibaki of Kenya, and Paul Kagame of Rwanda will address Board members at a high-level session today. They will be joined by UK Secretary of State for International Development, Hilary Benn.
At the top of the Boards agenda is a decision on when to call for a new round of grant applications which would be submitted for approval next year. Board members have to balance the clear need for increased funding for programs to fight the three diseases against the Global Funds current resource constraints.
Since it was created in 2002, the Global Fund has approved proposals worth US$ 3 billion over two years to 314 grants in 128 countries. Of this, $570 million goes to the countries of the Lake Victoria Region. Board members have spent the previous four days visiting Global Fund-supported programs in Kenya, Tanzania and Rwanda.
The Global Fund Board consists of nine members representing donors and ten members representing countries and organizations eligible as recipients of Global Fund financing. In addition, there are four non-voting members, representing the World Health Organization, UNAIDS, the World Bank and the Swiss government. The Board approves funding, the Global Funds budget and operational procedures, and sets overall policies.
The Board meeting will conclude on Saturday 20th November 2004.