PRESS
RELEASE
First Meeting of the Transitional Working Group to
establish a Fund to fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and
Malaria
The Transitional Working Group (TWG) to
establish a new Fund to fight AIDS, Tuberculosis,
and Malaria, convened for the first time on Thursday and
Friday (11th and 12th October) in Brussels.
The
TWG agreed on the name of the Fund, conceived as a financial
entity for leveraging resources to combat HIV AIDS, tuberculosis,
and malaria for countries and groups in the greatest need.
The Fund will support programs for strengthening health
systems and country-level partnerships involving governments,
the private sector, and civil society. In addition, the
Fund will support the purchase of critical health products,
such as bed-nets, condoms, antiretroviral drugs, anti-TB
and anti-malarial drugs, on the basis of an independent
review of local realities.
The
Fund will operate in a transparent and accountable manner,
respecting country ownership and national processes. It
will support simplified, rapid, and innovative disbursement
mechanisms. Its resources will be complementary to existing
programs and focus on clear and measurable results.
The
TWG was established at the last partner consultation meeting
for the proposed Fund in Brussels in July. It includes
representatives drawn from over 40 developing and developed
countries, UN agencies, the World Bank, the private sector,
foundations, and NGOs. The Chair of the TWG is Dr. Chrispus
Kiyonga, former Minister of Health in Uganda. The TWG
is supported by a Technical Support Secretariat (TSS),
based in Brussels and staffed by partner staff temporarily
on loan. Mr. Paul Ehmer from USAID is team leader of the
TSS. The TWG has been charged with making decisions that
will lead to the creation of an operational fund by the
end of calendar year 2001. The TWG and the TSS will dissolve
when the Fund becomes operational.
Having
laid the foundations of the new Fund, the TWG will
seek to establish a bank account as soon as possible to
allow governments to fulfil their pledges. A bank account
for private donations already has been established.
For
further information please contact:
Melanie Zipperer at melanie.zipperer@tss-twg.be
Telephone: +32 2 234 6360
25-27 June 2001
United Nations Special Session on HIV AIDS: A global AIDS and Health Fund
A multi-billion-dollar investment in the battle against AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria will save millions of people. Those already hit by these diseases would be able to live longer and healthier lives. Even the worst affected countries could be able to regain the ground lost in their fight against poverty and inequality.
15 May 2001
World Health Assembly Technical Briefing: Scaling up action to tackle illness associated with poverty - The Fund for AIDS and Health
By Dr Gro Harlem Brundtland, Director-General World Health Organization
11 May 2001
Fact Sheet: White House Outlines Proposal for Fund to Fight HIV AIDS
President Bush announced May 11 that the United States is ready to contribute $200 million to a global fund to be used against HIV AIDS and other infectious diseases. The White House also released a fact sheet describing the administration's views on the policies that should govern the fund. The fund will be an important item on the international agenda at an upcoming United Nations General Assembly session on AIDS to be held in New York June 25-27.
30 April 2001
African Leaders Sign Declaration Urging Funding
African leaders signed a joint declaration Friday urging more spending to fight HIV AIDS and highlighting the necessity of affordable drugs to treat the millions who are infected on the continent. Speaking at the conclusion of the two-day African ...
26 April 2001
Annan Calls For Global War Chest
More UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan today called for a multimillion dollar global fund to combat HIV AIDS, saying $7 billion to $10 billion is needed annually to halt the disease's spread. Current HIV AIDS annual spending in developing countries ...
7 April 2001
A Fund for the Fight Against AIDS by Jeffrey Sachs
AIDS has become the greatest killer epidemic in modern history, and it may be the worst ever by the time it comes under control. Yet, with effective treatments now available at low prices, and global attention as never before, we can actually fight the scourge and save millions of lives in the process. A few moments of thinking could change history.
