Overall Global AIDS Funding Has Flat Lined, Says UNAIDS

Despite the USA’s $4 billion pledge over three years, a 38% increase, and total pledges amounting to $11.7 billion, overall AIDS funding has flat lined for the first time in 15 years, said UNAIDS, the HIV/AIDS arm of the United Nations at the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria’s Replenishment Conference in New York.

Michel Sidibé, Executive Director of UNAIDS, said:

These pledges come at a critical time. We are just starting to see returns on investments with new infections coming down in most high-burden countries and more people than ever on antiretroviral treatment. This is a significant and necessary first milestone, but insufficient to meet aspirations. Public and private donors must continue to mobilize resources in order to secure future progress in the AIDS response.

The Global Fund has received record pledges, but there continues to be an overall funding shortfall for the AIDS response, UNAIDS officials inform, raising concerns about the future as slowing investments undermine the AIDS response.

UNAIDS calculates that almost 2.8 million patients worldwide currently have access to treatment through Global Fund financing – representing over half of all people receiving treatment. With over 10 million needy individuals living with HIV, current access levels are still extremely low.

For every two individuals who start treatment, another five become infected, UNAIDS reports.

There have been some “encouraging results” from large scale investments in the AIDS effort. HIV infections appear to have dropped by over 25% in 22 of the worst affected countries in sub-Saharan Africa; AIDS related deaths have also fallen in those areas.

Michel Sidibe said that the Global Fund has saved almost six million lives over the last eight years. Current pledges represent a 20% increase compared to what was pledged in Berlin three years ago – quite an achievement during an global economic climate of austerity and constraint. He also stressed that yet more funding is required.

Source: UNAIDS

Written by Christian Nordqvist