Global Fund Chief Seeks to Calm Fears of AIDS Funding Cuts

Saturday at the 15th International Conference on AIDS and Sexually Transmitted Infections in Africa, held in Dakar, Senegal, Michel Kazatchkine said he was "cautiously optimistic" there would be no large cuts in anti-AIDS resources despite the global economic crisis.

"In my discussions with leaders up to now I have not heard of any donor that is not ready to honor their commitments" to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB and Malaria, said Kazatchkine, the fund's chief.

Earlier in the day, activists from non-governmental organizations warned of grave consequences if the Global Fund proceeded with a proposed 25 percent funding cut over two years' time. This would be in addition to a 10 percent reduction the Global Fund said it would aim for in its latest round of grants -- a savings Kazatchkine said would be achieved through "efficiency gains."

"A further 25 percent cut will be disastrous," said Peter Bujari of the Tanzanian Health and Development Trust.

"Our cry is: If money can be found to solve the credit crunch, if money can be found to save companies manufacturing toys for rich people [and] manufacturing cars, surely money can be found to fund HIV/AIDS in full," said Sam Kapembwa of the Zambian National AIDS Network.

Kazatchkine, however, said the 25 percent reduction is not a "final irreversible decision." "If the replenishment [of the Global Fund] allows it, we will cut on the cut. The 25 percent could become 10 percent, or 5 percent or even zero," he said.

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