UN-backed Global Fund commends Australia's plan to boost spending on HIV/AIDS

A Global Fund to fight HIV/AIDS and other diseases initiated by United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan today welcomed Australia's plan to allocate a further $A50 million (approximately $US38.2 million) to the fund over three years.

The Global Fund to Fight HIV/AIDS, Malaria and Tuberculosis called on other donor governments to follow the example set by Australia today and, this past February, by Canada to at least double their pledges for 2005 and beyond to help the fund respond to projected resource challenges.

The Fund, a unique public-private partnership created three years ago on Mr. Annan's initiative to attract additional resources in the battle against the three diseases, also said that the new pledge is part of the Australian Government's $A75 million investment and it represented further progress towards meeting Australia's $A600 million commitment to assist in the global effort to combat HIV/AIDS.

"To meet our current commitments, we will need $US2.3 billion in 2005, $US3.5 billion in 2006 and $US3.6 billion in 2007," the foundation's executive director Richard Feachem said. "We strongly encourage other countries to follow Australia's example," he added.