MEDIA RELEASE
Released By:
Downer
I am pleased to announce Australia will contribute a further $15 million to the Global Fund to fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria.
This announcement coincides with a High-Level Summit on HIV/AIDS held by the United Nations in New York today.
The new funding is part of the Australian Government's $75 million investment in the Global Fund and is further progress towards meeting the Government's $600 million commitment to assist the global effort to combat HIV/AIDS.
While much international attention on HIV/AIDS has focused on Sub-Saharan Africa, there are about 8.2 million people in the Asia Pacific with the disease.
If current trends continue, then 40 per cent of all new HIV infections globally will be in this region by 2010. Already, there are worrying signs that an African-style epidemic is emerging in Papua New Guinea.
The Global Fund works to attract and allocate additional resources to prevent and treat HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria - three of the world's most devastating diseases.
In the Asia-Pacific, resources from the Global Fund purchase commodities such as pharmaceuticals, mosquito bed nets and other medical supplies. The Fund also works to improve diagnosis and treatment facilities and provide additional training for health professionals.
The assistance I have announced today will help the Global Fund to extend its work in our region in preventing and treating these three diseases.
Media inquiries:
Chris Kenny (Mr Downer's office) 0419 206 890
AusAID (Public Affairs) 0417 680 590