Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 2001. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
Bangkok Post - June 25, 2001
Aphaluck Bhatiasevi
Pensri Tasnavites, UNAids Media adviser to Thailand, said the country might be included in a list of developing countries to receive funds because of the government's commitment to tackling HIV/Aids.
Apart from showing leadership in tackling the virus, Thailand's resources could also be used to assist neighbouring countries, she said.
The fund was initiated by the UN with the help of national governments, bilateral agencies, multilateral development banks, foundations and private corporations. It would begin at year's end.
The fund received US$250 million (11.3 billion baht) from the US, 150 million euros (5.8 billion baht) from France and $100 million from the Bill Gates Foundation.
It was aimed at mobilising financial support from the private sector to help combat diseases like HIV/Aids, tuberculosis and malaria.
The allocation of the fund would be discussed at the UN Special Session on HIV/Aids, which begins in New York today.
Deputy Prime Minister Pitak Intrawithayanunt, who heads the Thai delegation to the UN session, would address Thailand's financial needs in tackling the growth of the epidemic.
Leaders from 73 countries at the UN session were expected to endorse a declaration of commitment at the end of the three-day session on Wednesday.
The session would mark 20 years of the spread of HIV/Aids, which has infected more than 56 million worldwide and killed 22 million.
It was estimated 36.1 million people were living with HIV. About 5.3 million were infected with the virus in 2000, of whom 600,000 were children.
A global campaign against HIV/Aids would require between $7-10 billion annually, which would be spent on prevention, care and support programmes.
Studies found $9.2 billion would be needed by 2005 to expand global response against HIV/Aids to the point where its spread was reversed.
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