MEDIA RELEASE
Released By:
Downer
I am pleased to announce that Australia will contribute a further $17 million to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria.
This enhanced commitment is evidence of the Australian Government's longstanding commitment to fight these debilitating diseases in our region.
Global Fund grants have allowed more than half a million people to be treated with anti-retroviral drugs for HIV, more than 1.4 million people to be treated for tuberculosis, and more than 11 million insecticide-treated bed nets to be distributed to prevent malaria.
The announcement coincides with the Mid-Term Meeting on the Global Fund's Voluntary Replenishment Mechanism in Durban, South Africa from 3-4 July, which will assess the upcoming resource needs of the Fund.
HIV, malaria and tuberculosis continue to claim thousands of lives each year in our region.
In 2005 two-thirds of all international funding to fight malaria and tuberculosis, and around a fifth of all global funding to combat HIV/AIDS came from the Global Fund.
Australia has pledged a total of $75 million to the Fund over four years to 2007.
Media inquiries:
Tony Parkinson (Minister's Office) 0409 536 410
AusAID (Public Affairs) 0417 680 590