AIDS Funding: Gates Steps Up as Rich Countries Step Back
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NEW YORK, Aug 11 (OneWorld) - The world's wealthiest nations have come under scathing criticism for their inaction after billionaire Bill Gates made a new pledge this week to spend $500 million on the global fight against HIV and AIDS.
"When the richest man on earth provides such generous support, the risk is that some donor governments may mistakenly think they are now off the hook," says Joanne Carter, legislative director of RESULTS, a U.S.-based advocacy group. Carter and other activists associated with a number of public advocacy groups say the Gates pledge must be seen as a challenge to wealthy countries, most of whom have failed to match their words with deeds. "We will never break the back of AIDS, tuberculosis (TB), and malaria without robust increases in donor government support," says Carter, noting that even with Gates' hefty donation, the Global Fund to Fight AIDS is currently short of the funds it needs to achieve its targets. The demand for improved funding comes ahead of an international meeting on AIDS due to take place in Toronto, Canada next week. Organizers say about 20,000 officials, scientists, and activists are likely to attend the meeting, which they have billed as the "largest-ever gathering on AIDS." The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation said it would contribute $500 million to the Global Fund over the next five years, out of which $200 million will be made available for the upcoming "sixth funding round" for which countries are currently applying. The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB, and malaria was established in January 2002. It is a private-public partnership that aims to dramatically reduce the threat of AIDS and other deadly diseases by the year 2010. Activists such as Carter see Gates' contribution as a "welcome addition" to the Global Fund's capacity to fight HIV/AIDS, but note that it still makes up a small portion of total global needs, which the United Nations says demand at least $15-18 billion both this year and next. AIDS activists estimate that even after receiving Gates' contribution, the Global Fund will remain $1.8 billion short for anti-AIDS projects it would otherwise fund in 2006 and 2007. As a result, millions of people living with HIV/AIDS in poor countries will die due to lack of funds to provide treatment. Currently, there are more than 40 million people living with HIV/AIDS, according to the United Nations, which estimates that the disease has already taken some 25 million lives. Though HIV/AIDS cases have been reported in all parts of the world, studies show the disease has taken most lives in poor countries. Among them, sub-Saharan Africa is considered to be hardest hit, with nearly 26 million people living with HIV or AIDS. UN officials and health advocacy groups warn that about 74 million people could die from HIV/AIDS-related causes by 2015 if governments failed to keep their promises to fight the deadly epidemic. At its recent summit held in St. Petersburg, Russia, once again the Group of Eight (G8) industrialized nations pledged to support the Global Fund, but failed to take any practical steps for increasing funding. That, despite a forceful call made by some of the world's most prominent religious and spiritual leaders including South Africa's Desmond Tutu, the Dalai Lama of Tibet, and Bishop Mark Hanson of the United States. Last month, in a letter, they urged the G8 leaders to make "concrete pledges" on the Global Fund, not mere promises for contribution. Many G8 countries have promised to spend at least 0.7 percent of their national incomes on development in poor countries--less than 1 percent, but still far more than they currently spend. Most remain far short of matching their words with deeds. The G8 includes the United States, Canada, France, Germany, Britain, Italy, Japan, and Russia. Kofi Annan, the UN secretary-general, has also repeatedly called for additional funding from donor countries. "The world has made considerable promises," a frustrated Annan said on the eve of last December's World AIDS Day. "The time has come to keep them." Activists say donor governments need to follow the lead of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation by taking dramatic steps for improved funding. "The Gates Foundation has stepped forward, but G8 donor governments appear to be stepping back," says Asia Russell, the alternate Global Fund Board member for developed country NGOs. "The wealthiest countries in the world have committed to attaining universal access to HIV treatment, prevention, and care by 2010," she adds. "Will they put their money where their mouths are?" Worldwide, the groups calling for an increase in funding from donor governments include the Global AIDS Alliance, Health GAP, the Ecumenical Advocacy Alliance, Advocates for Youth, Project-Ring of the Japan AIDS and Society Association, Action Aid, Action Against AIDS Germany, and AIDES. |
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