Global Fund Approves $2.9B Over Five Years in Fourth-Round Grants

The Global Fund To Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria has approved $2.9 billion over five years in fourth-round grants, according to a Global Fund release. The fourth-round grants will fund antiretroviral treatment for 932,000 HIV-positive people, finance 123 million combination anti-malarial treatments, and fund 44 million insecticide-treated bed nets and DOTS therapy for 640,000 TB patients. The Global Fund approves five-year grants, however it initially provides funding for the first two years, according to the release. The Global Fund's two-year commitments for the fourth round of grants thus far total $968 million. The fund so far has committed $3 billion for 310 grants in 129 countries during all four rounds. More than 85% of the fourth-round funding will go to low-income countries, with approximately 70% of the funding going to African countries and 48% of the funding going to fight HIV/AIDS, according to the release. Over all four rounds of grants, the fund has subsidized antiretroviral treatment for 1.6 million people living with HIV/AIDS and voluntary HIV/AIDS counseling and testing for 52 million people. HHS Secretary and Chair of the Global Fund Board Tommy Thompson said, "Global Fund money will save millions of lives and prevent disease in millions more," adding, "We are working hard to ensure the Global Fund is sustainable and vital into the future so people living with AIDS and infectious diseases receive the lifesaving care they need" (Global Fund release, 6/30).