January - February, 2003

Bush's $US15 Billion Pledge

U.N. Secretary General, Kofi Annan, has hailed President Bush's promise to provide $US 15 billion in funding to help in the global battle against HIV/AIDS. He said there'll be a new emphasis on access to life-saving treatment and care for millions of people that'll help to stave off the very real threat to stability that AIDS represents in the worst affected regions.

President Bush said his comprehensive plan would prevent 7 million new AIDS infections, treat at
least 2 million peole with life-extending drugs and provide humane care for millions of people suffering from AIDS, and for children orphaned by AIDS - 14 million in Africa alone!

Global Fund to fight AIDS, Tuberculosis & Malaria

This Fund is now headed by Tommy Thompson, US Secretary of Health & Human Services as Chair for the coming year. He's the man who was booed off the stage at the Barcelona AIDS Conference last July by activists chanting "Where's the 210 billion? - Fund the Global Fund."

The Fund has allocated $866 million to projects in 60 nations. Sixty percent will fund projects to fight AIDS, with 70 percent of the projects to include a mother-to-child transmission component. While these grants will cost $866 million over the first two years, substantial new funds need to be pledged if the organisation is to approve a third round of grants in October.

Three States in India received the largest single country grant within Asia, up to $38.8 million for proposals for tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS over two years, the latter increasing their program for HIV/AIDS prevention and care for pregnant women, their babies and families. Over the full term of the 5 year proposals, more than 7 million pregnant women in the three Indian states will be offered HIV testing and counselling and over 350,000 given help to prevent transmission to their babies.

A reminder - Declaration of Commitment

In June 2001, in New York, The United Nations General Assembly held a Special Session at which it made a Declaration of Commitment of which the following is just one part:

By 2003, enact,strengthen or enforce, as appropriate, legislation, regulations and other measures to eliminate all forms of discrimination against, and to ensure the full enjoyment of all human rights and fundamental freedoms by, people living with HIV/AIDS and members of vulnerable groups.