Global HIV and malaria fight gets €25m boost

Ireland will contribute €25m in 2008 to the global fight against HIV/AIDS, TB and malaria, it emerged today.

The announcement was made at the Global Fund Replenishment Conference in Berlin which is being chaired by the ex-UN secretary general, Kofi Annan.

Minister for Overseas development Michael Kitt said the 2008 level represents a 25% increase on the 2006 contribution and demonstrates Ireland’s commitment to the prevention and control of communicable diseases in its development programmes.

Mr Kitt was speaking as he concluded a trip to Mozambique in southern Africa to visit aid projects.

The Global Fund was established in 2002 in response to the challenge presented by HIV/AIDS, TB and malaria.

Mr Kitt said the three diseases cause more than six million deaths per year.

“They have resulted in the reversal of decades of health and development progress in many countries and the continuing devastation of families and communities around the world,” he said.

The Global Fund supports Governments and NGOs in countries worst affected by these diseases.

Since its establishment in 2002, the Global Fund is estimated to have saved 1.8 million lives.

As a direct result of the Global Fund, 1.1 million HIV positive people are on anti-retroviral treatment; 2.8 million people are receiving TB treatment and over 30 million malaria bed nets have been distributed.

Ireland has contributed €80m to the Global Fund since it was established in 2002.

The Global Fund is the single biggest recipient of Irish Aid funding for HIV and other communicable diseases.