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AFRICA: US senate generous with UN-administered body

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

JOHANNESBURG, 18 March (PLUSNEWS) - The US Senate this week almost tripled President George W Bush's recent request for funding to the Global AIDS Fund, which aims to boost the worldwide fight against HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria.

If approved by the House of Representatives, the $500 million increase would raise the country's contribution to the Fund to $800 million for the 2006 fiscal year, which begins in October 2005.

Reuters quoted Pennsylvania Republican Senator Rick Santorum, as saying: "One of the most important things we can do is work on the pandemic that's affecting Africa right now."

AIDS activists have welcomed the move, despite their previous criticism of the Bush administration for not pumping enough money into the Fund.

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