International News Global Fund to Award Fourth Round of Grants in June 2004, Earlier Than U.S.-Backed PlanOctober 17, 2003 The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria on Thursday at a meeting of its board in Chiang Mai, Thailand, decided that it will award its fourth round of grants in June 2004, five months earlier than a plan supported by the United States and some other countries, the Boston Globe reports (Donnelly, Boston Globe, 10/17). U.S. officials had said that the fund should delay the fourth round of grant awards until it has a more accurate accounting of its means (Kaiser Daily HIV/AIDS Report, 10/16). The fund also announced that it will award $623 million to 71 programs in 50 countries in its third round of grants, the Washington Post reports. The third round of grants totaled $261 million less than the second round of grants that were awarded in January. Of the $623 million set to be awarded in the third round, $101 million will be funded using pledges expected to be fulfilled next year. Global Fund Executive Director Richard Feachem said that the decision to fund grants from future donations is not expected to become a regular practice, according to the Post. The decision to make only one round of grants in 2004, during which the Global Fund expects to receive $1 billion in pledges, is "an acknowledgement that the fund could outstrip its resources at the current pace," the Post reports. About $400 million of the $1 billion expected next year will likely go to programs that were awarded grants in the first round. After two years, the programs are permitted to ask for three more years' worth of funding based on their success (Brown, Washington Post, 10/17). In its first two rounds of grants, the Global Fund committed $1.5 billion in funding to support 154 programs in 93 countries worldwide (Kaiser Daily HIV/AIDS Report, 10/16).
Reaction Thompson Asks Other Nations To Donate One-Third of Total The Global Fund approved China's application for more than $32 million over two years to fight HIV/AIDS, according to an AIDS Policy Project release (AIDS Policy Project release, 10/17). Experts estimate that more than one million HIV-positive people live in China, Dai Zhicheng, vice president of the China Association for HIV/AIDS and Venereal Disease Prevention, said at a meeting of a China Red Cross AIDS prevention program on Thursday, Xinhua News Agency reports. He added that although the country had 40,560 reported HIV cases at the end of 2002, the actual number of cases is likely "much higher," and therefore HIV/AIDS prevention efforts are "very serious" (Xinhua News Agency, 10/17). However, the AIDS Policy Project in a statement expressed concerned that the country's "severe corruption problem" could limit access to the funds. Allison Dinsmore of APP said, "China's AIDS epidemic was mostly caused by provincial officials who infected their own people. These people are notoriously corrupt," adding, "How will the Global Fund keep the money out of their hands?" The APP called on the Chinese government to provide free antiretroviral therapy, treatment education and health care for people living with HIV in China; offer free education and care for orphans and children of HIV-positive parents in Henan province; and disclose "current, accurate AIDS epidemiological information" (AIDS Policy Project release, 10/17). The Global Fund also announced that more than 12 Caribbean countries, including Guyana, Haiti, Belize, Jamaica and the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States, will receive $44 million in grants to fight HIV/AIDS, the Associated Press reports. Fund officials said they will decide in November how much funding each country will receive (Associated Press, 10/16). Back to other news for October 17, 2003
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