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SOUTH AFRICA: The Global Fund clarifies its position on relations with South Africa

[ This report does not necessarily reflect the views of the United Nations]

JOHNNESBURG, 3 June (PLUSNEWS) - The Executive Director of the Global Fund to Fight HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, Professor Richard Feachem, clarified the Fund's position on the current status of its grants to South Africa in a statement released on Thursday.

Clarification became necessary after a media interview in London about a week ago, during which Feachem reportedly expressed concern over a delay in the disbursement of Global Fund grants to local beneficiaries.

However, according to South Africa's Ministry of Health, the Global Fund was provided with the details of grant money received and transferred to local organisations.

The statement by the Fund on Thursday indicated that they had no plans for withdrawing any funds from South Africa, and collaboration between the Global Fund and the South African government was "productive and positive".

"With a seat on the Global Fund Board, South Africa plays an important role in the governance of the Global Fund. We are encouraged by recent progress, and are confident that the programmes supported by the Global Fund will contribute substantially to South Africa's struggle with HIV/AIDS," the statement said.

Health minister Dr Manto Tshabalala-Msimang was reportedly satisfied that misconceptions around the projects supported by the Fund had been cleared up.

Feachem reiterated the Global Fund's commitment to working with the South African government to find joint solutions to bottlenecks, in order to ensure the rapid and efficient implementation of local programmes financed by the Fund.

So far the Fund has approved proposals for HIV/AIDS prevention, treatment and care worth US $234 million over five years for South Africa.

According to the Ministry of Health, grants made in the second and third round of allocations have not yet been disbursed by the Fund.

The global public-private partnership is dedicated to attracting and disbursing additional resources to prevent and treat AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria. The partnership between governments, civil society, the private sector and affected communities represents "a new approach to international health financing".

The Fund works in close collaboration with other bilateral and multilateral organisations to supplement existing efforts dealing with the three diseases and has committed US $2.1 billion to 225 programmes in 121 countries to date.

[ENDS]