TOGO: Alleged mismanagement of funds worries NGOs

LOME, 20 September 2006 (PlusNews) - Togolese NGOs are circulating a petition to pressure Togolese officials to take measures to assure that funds contributed to help fight HIV/AIDS in the country are well managed after financing for their programmes was suspended.

The Global Fund to Fight AIDS early this month sent a letter to Togo's health ministry calling attention to "irregularities" in the management of funds allocated for tackling HIV/AIDS. As a result, the organisation withdrew financial support for the programmes.

"We are worried by this decision as we will not be able to cater to those people living with the virus who are taking the antiretroviral drugs," said Augustin Dokla, leader of the Network of Associations of People Living with HIV/AIDS in Togo. "The lives of thousands of people are in danger and the fight against HIV/AIDS will be compromised."

Some 3,500 people in Togo receive ARVs acquired through the Global Fund.

Since July 2004, Togolese AIDS groups have benefitted from the Fund's initiative to intensify the fight against the disease. The organisation has spent about US $45 million on various AIDS projects in the country.

The United Nations Development Programme estimates that Togo's HIV prevalence rate is 6 percent in a population of 4.5 million.