Applications for Funding From Global AIDS Fund Exceed Available Amount
Although groups and governments from developing nations have requested a total of $1.15 billion in aid for 2002 from the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, the fund said on Monday that it can only disburse $700 million to $800 million this year, Reuters reports. Governments and groups representing more than 36 African countries alone have requested $641 million of funding. Initial grant proposals for funding were due on March 10, and recipients of the funding are expected to be announced by the fund's board on April 24 after the proposals are reviewed by a "special technical panel" at a meeting in Geneva that began yesterday and ends April 5. Applications for funding have outlined programs addressing HIV/AIDS prevention, treatment, care and support. Although governments and the private sector have pledged $1.9 billion in support, less than half that amount is currently held by the fund. This round of disbursements by the fund will increase the amount of money available to fight HIV/AIDS worldwide in 2002 by 50% (Reuters, 3/25).
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