Nigeria, Italy Pledge New Financial Commitments to Global Fund
The Global Fund To Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria on Wednesday announced that Nigeria has pledged $10 million to the agency, making it the fund's largest financial contributor that also is eligible to receive grants, BuaNews/AllAfrica.com reports (Mabasa, BuaNews/AllAfrica.com, 3/16). Nigeria made the announcement during a Global Fund meeting held this week in Sweden to review its total financial needs and discuss how to best finance programs fighting the three diseases worldwide (Kaiser Daily HIV/AIDS Report, 3/15). Nigeria, which made a contribution of $10 million in 2002, so far has received $201 million in HIV/AIDS, TB and malaria grants from the fund (BuaNews/AllAfrica.com, 3/16). "President Obasanjo and Nigeria are among the supporting pillars of the Global Fund," Global Fund Executive Director Richard Feachem said, adding, "Nigeria is facing a potentially catastrophic HIV/AIDS epidemic and suffers from serious malaria and TB epidemics. In light of its problems at home, the Nigerian contribution is a great act of global solidarity. It should inspire other much wealthier donors to do their part to provide the resources necessary to drive back these three pandemics" (Global Fund release [1], 3/16).
Italy Releases, Donates Additional Funds
Italy announced on Wednesday that it has released about $134 million to the Global Fund and intends to contribute an additional $107 million later in the year. "The contributions from Italy are extremely welcome," Feachem said, adding, "The Global Fund was born at the G8 meeting in Genoa in 2001 through strong Italian leadership. It is heartening to see that Italy is continuing its leadership and commitment to the Global Fund's success" (Global Fund release [2], 3/16). Feachem earlier this week announced that the Global Fund needs $2.3 billion this year, $3.5 billion in 2006 and $3.6 billion in 2007 in order to meet its funding commitments (Kaiser Daily HIV/AIDS Report, 3/15).