UN-backed Global Fund treats nearly 1.5 million living with HIV

Almost doubling last year’s results, the United Nations-backed Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria announced today that over 1.4 million people living with HIV have received antiretroviral (ARV) treatment through programmes it supports.

Progress has also been made in the fight against tuberculosis – the leading cause of death among those infected with HIV – with over 3.3 million people treated with effective drugs through schemes receiving Fund support.

Regarding malaria, the Fund announced earlier this week that programmes it supports have delivered 46 million bed nets, up from 18 million last year, to families at risk.

“These results are the living proof that Global Fund investments are working,” said Rajat Gupta, Chairman of the Fund’s Board. “These positive figures should be an incentive to all donors, partners and the many health professionals working in the field to continue to bring the fight against the three diseases to a new level in the years to come.”

Along with the United States’ President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, the Fund finances most major AIDS treatment and prevention initiatives in developing countries.

Earlier this month at a meeting in China, the Fund’s Board approved funding for 73 new grants totaling $1.1 billion over two years, bringing the total to $9.8 billion for over 520 programmes in 136 countries.