Bush Administration’s Attacks on the Global Fund condemned

“People with HIV/AIDS and their advocates strongly condemn the decision by the United States to block new funding for HIV/AIDS programs around the world through the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria and its systematic attempts to undermine the work of the World Health Organization and its efforts to ensure that 3 million people in the developing world receive HIV treatment by the end of 2005.

The suspension, proposed by the United States, of new funding for HIV, TB and malaria programs by the Global Fund, will lead to the loss of countless numbers of lives and to thousands of new infections. While we recognize there have been some problems in the disbursement of grants and implementation of programs through the Global Fund, this is not an excuse for suspending new grants to countries that desperately need this support. A fifth round of funding by the Global Fund would provide vital resources to nations around the world confronting these pandemics.

We also condemn the US government’s attacks and those by right-wing think tanks associated with the Administration on the World Health Organization and its prequalification process for evaluating antiretroviral drugs. While there have been specific problems with the dossiers submitted by some of the manufacturers of generic AIDS drugs to the WHO, these problems were recognized and are being handled by the agency. We urge the US government to work with the WHO to strengthen its prequalification program rather than setting up its own regulatory process for these drugs at the US Food and Drug Administration as well as duplicative supply and procurement programs in the developing world.

With these events taken together, we believe that the US government is seeking to draw control of global AIDS programs under its own leadership rather than supporting multilateral responses through the WHO and the Global Fund. The United States cannot go it alone in the fight against AIDS and must work in cooperation with the global community. It should not abuse its power in setting the agenda in the fight against this disease, particularly when it has championed abstinence-only prevention programs that do not work and expensive brand-name drugs that are unsustainable solutions for the developing world.”

Contact: [email protected]

AFRICA: US, JAPAN AND FRANCE UNITING TO CURTAIL FIGHT AGAINST AIDS
Global AIDS Alliance

US, Japan and France Uniting to Curtail Fight Against AIDS

Contact: David Bryden, 202-296-0260 ext 211 or 202-549-3664 mobile

Washington, Nov 16 -- Despite naming AIDS one of six top priorities for his second term, President Bush is taking steps this week to cripple the Global Fund. The Fund, based in Geneva, has the broadest impact and uses the most collaborative and need-driven approach of any international health initiative.

This week the Global Fund's Board, chaired by Secretary Tommy Thompson, will meet week in Tanzania (Nov 17-19) and decide whether to proceed with additional grantmaking. UN Secretary General Kofi Annan will attend the meeting, along with five African Presidents including the Chair of the Africa Union, President Obasanjo.

AIDS advocates consider the meeting a “make-it-or-break-it” meeting for the Fund. Contributions are not keeping pace with the Fund’s needs, which are escalating in 2005 and 2006. The impact of a cancellation of grantmaking on the fight against global disease would be “catastrophic,” according to the Fund’s Director. “The Bush Administration will be sentencing many people to death in Africa, in Asia, in the Caribbean, in Latin America, and in Eastern Europe,” stated noted South African AIDS advocate Zackie Achmat.

Since re-election, the President has intensified efforts to roll back the level of next year’s US contributions to the Fund. Using misleading claims about the Fund's track record, the Administration hopes to persuade Congress to reverse an earlier approved level that was based in part on emergency funding. Congress is now finalizing the Omnibus Spending Bill, and the White House is weighing in with behind-the-scenes negotiations to undercut the Fund.

Also, according to leaked White House talking points, the President is strongly backing a proposal that would essentially stall the Fund at its current level of grantmaking, just as the world is trying to reach a target of getting 3 million people on AIDS treatment by the end of next year. The Administration is lobbying other members of the Board of the Global Fund to support the cancellation of grantmaking for the forseeable future, and this idea has gained considerable momentum. The Fund was supposed to reach a level of annual grantmaking of $7 billion by 2007.

"The President is undermining the positive legacy he hopes to leave on AIDS," stated Dr. Paul Zeitz, Executive Director of the Global AIDS Alliance. "Far from beginning a fresh start in his second term, President Bush still pursues his ill-informed vendetta against the Fund. Sadly, Japan, France and other Board members seem ready to back this incredibly shortsighted policy. Yet, proceeding with plans for next year’s grantmaking would actually help create the pressure needed to get additional contributions. The Fund needs to be strong not only to fight AIDS but also to fill major gaps in the funding of programs to fight Tb and malaria."

Even before the election, the White House was attacking the Fund. On September 21 the White House sent staffers to distribute misleading and inflammatory information about the Fund to Congressional appropriators, the very day President Bush was highlighting his “support” for the Fund in a speech at the UN.

Besides funding issues, this week’s meeting will also consider whether or not to commit to minimum requirements for civil society participation. The Fund's 400-person Partnership Forum backed the requirements at its July meeting.

“It is critically important that the Board require grantees to live up to basic standards of participation from civic groups, including people living with AIDS,” stated Zeitz.

BACKGROUND:

TANZANIA: BUSH ADMINISTRATION PROPOSES GLOBAL FUND DELAY

Health officials in the Bush administration are urging board members of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria to delay the distribution of a fifth round of grants because of funding shortages, the New York Times reports. However, people attending the Global Fund's board meeting in Arusha, Tanzania, this week said on Tuesday that the fund "appears likely" to go ahead with a new round of grants, according to the Financial Times. Board members will have to "balance the clear need for increased funding" for programs against the fund's "current resource constraints," according to a Global Fund release.

http://www.kaisernetwork.org/daily_reports/rep_index.cfm?DR_ID=26778