AFRICA: Global Fund gains anti-AIDS momentum, despite malaria delays

JOHANNESBURG, 25 Aug 2005 (PLUSNEWS) - The Global Fund says it made huge strides in anti-AIDS and tuberculosis (TB) treatment in the first six months of this year.

Some 90,000 HIV-positive people received antiretrovirals between January and July, bringing the total treatment number up to 220,000, while an estimated 600,000 people now had access to TB medication.

In a statement the Fund noted that although "programmes are on track to reach targets set for HIV/AIDS and TB, [they] are behind on targets for malaria".

Only 3.1 million bed nets have been distributed this year, partly due to funding being focused on developing new, more effective drugs and strengthening malaria programmes in high-prevalence nations.

In accordance with its five-year treatment strategy, the Fund hopes to provide anti-AIDS drug therapy to 1.6 million people, TB care to 3.5 million, and insecticide-treated bed nets to fight malaria to 108 million.

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