Guyana successfully proposes Global AIDS fund
Guyana Chronicle
October 16, 2003
THE Board of the Global Fund began its Sixth Meeting in Thailand yesterday with Guyana's proposal for a Global Fund to fight AIDS being accepted by participants.
The proposal was one of two by Guyana and among eight on HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria from Caribbean Community (CARICOM) member countries at the three-day meeting.
The other proposals: two from Haiti and one each from Belize, Jamaica, the OECS, and the Pan American Caribbean Partnership Against HIV/AIDS (PANCAP).
Dr. Edward Greene, CARICOM Assistant Secretary General, expressed satisfaction with the meeting's acceptance of CARICOM's eight proposals.
Dr. Green is also Alternate Board Member for Latin America and the Caribbean.
Speaking from Chiang Mai, Thailand, shortly after yesterday's session, he said "the decision of the Board to fund the CARICOM projects gives a significant fillip to the region in its accelerated approach to dealing with HIV/AIDS, TB and Malaria."
A release from the CARICOM Secretariat said yesterday that the original sum allocated to the CARICOM countries over the first two years (2004-05) is estimated to be US$44 million and likely to reach US$110 million over a five-year period.
"The allocations provide an opportunity for the CARICOM countries to work in a concerted manner in the fight against HIV/AIDS, the main areas of which, include prevention, care and treatment and reduction of stigma and discrimination of people living with HIV/AIDS," said the CARICOM Secretariat statement.
One of Guyana's awards was for malaria.
A full discussion on the implications of the awards will take place at the Third Annual Meeting of PANCAP scheduled for November 12 and 13 in Georgetown, Guyana.