Zambia, Malawi Say Delays in Receiving Global Fund Money Are Harming Fight Against HIV/AIDS

Officials from Zambia and Malawi on Wednesday said that delays in the release of funding from the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria are "negatively affect[ing]" their efforts to fight HIV/AIDS, the Associated Press reports. Zambian National AIDS Council Acting Director Rosemary Musonda and Malawian health ministry official Richard Pandame said that the lack of funds was "retarding" the operation of the country's HIV/AIDS programs, according to the Associated Press. The Global Fund has awarded Zambia and Malawi $200 million and $119 million, respectively, to fight HIV/AIDS (Associated Press, 3/19). Global Fund Executive Director Richard Feachem has said that while the fund has received more than $2 billion from governments and donors, it will need three times that amount to meet demand over the next two years (Kaiser Daily HIV/AIDS Report, 2/20). In related news, according to a government source, the Global Fund is expected to award Cote d'Ivoire $92 million over five years to finance HIV/AIDS programs in the country, Agence France-Presse reports (Agence France-Presse, 3/19). In addition, the Global Fund announced on Monday that it will award $2.4 million to Benin for malaria prevention and treatment programs, according to a fund release. The money will make available antimalarial drugs and insecticide-treated nets, intensify awareness campaigns and train health care workers in remote areas of the country (Global Fund release, 3/17). Last week, the Global Fund announced that it is accepting third round program proposals from the public and private sectors, and countries with the greatest need will be given priority, according to a fund release (Global Fund release, 3/13).