Global Fund-Supported Programmes Prevent & Treat Diseases

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UNITED NATIONS, Sep 26 2012 (IPS) - The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria says there is a dramatic increase in the number of insecticide-treated nets distributed to protect families from malaria.

The number of people receiving antiretroviral therapy for HIV and those being treated effectively for tuberculosis rose sharply over the same period.

A new report released here says that incidence and mortality for each of those diseases are falling across the world due to the work of countries, the Global Fund and its partners.

Overall, the report shows that 8.7 million lives have been saved by programmes supported by the Global Fund since the organization was formed in 2002. The report, entitled “Strategic Investments for Impact: Global Fund Results 2012”, includes data through June 2012.

The report also points out some of the achievements which reflect the commitment of donors, the hard work of implementers, and the dedication of partners to supporting treatment and prevention all over the world.

“Today, people in the poorest countries can access essential treatment and prevention services,” says Gabriel Jaramillo, General Manager of the Global Fund, in a foreword to the report. This is because of highly effective, determined and innovative work by the health professionals, administrators and community workers who we are proud to support.

The data show that over an 18-month period that ended in June, 2012, 110 million bed nets were distributed, an increase of 73 per cent since the end of 2010, bringing the total number of bed nets delivered by Global Fund-supported programmes to 270 million.

Over the same 18-month period, an additional 600,000 people living with HIV have begun life-saving anti-retroviral treatment through Global Fund-supported programs, taking the total to 3.6 million.

Global Fund supported programs have since 2002 detected and treated 9.3 million new smear-positive cases of tuberculosis an increase of 21 per cent between 2010 and mid-2012.

Of 105 Global Fund-supported countries with sufficient data, 41 per cent have met, or are on track to meet, the international target of universal access to antiretroviral therapy by 2015. Meanwhile, 32 per cent have met, or are on track to meet the universal access target by 2015 to prevent mothers living with HIV from passing on the virus to their children.

TB mortality has fallen dramatically since 2000. Half or more of the countries that have received Global Fund support are on track to meet international targets for case detection, treatment success and TB disease incidence.
With a total of US$ 22.9 billion in funding approved for programs in 151 countries, the Global Fund had disbursed a total of US $15.7 billion, as of December 2011. The Board has requested the Secretariat to move ahead with plans for the approval of the available uncommitted funds in new funding in the coming years.