Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 2003. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
Bangkok Post - October 14, 2003
Aphaluck Bhatiasevi
The fund is running short of $3 billion, with rich countries, particularly the United States, Japan and Australia, shrugging off commitments earlier made regarding their contributions.
Health experts yesterday said that could be a setback for Thailand which had been promised 560 million baht from the fund.
An alliance of international NGOs, including the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies and Oxfam, and self-help groups of people with HIV/Aids demanded rich countries contribute fairly to the global fund on the basis of the size of their economies.
They planned to rally during tomorrow's meeting in Chiang Mai of administrators of the global fund.
"There is a risk that without enough funding, the meeting in Chiang Mai won't be able to provide the necessary funding required," said Rosemarie North of the International Federation of Red Cross.
Without new contributions, the fund would be forced to limit and delay funding for life-saving programmes to combat the three diseases in poor countries, she said.
The fund was accountable for tens of millions of lives that gave reason for its existence. The board must not aim low when it was dealing with the world's greatest humanitarian crisis, said Kamon Uppakaew, chairman of Thai Network of People Living with HIV/Aids.
Despite having a gross domestic product of 16% of world economy, Japan has resisted efforts of civil society to make it contribute fairly to the fund, said Sharonann Lynch of Health Gap of the Global Access Programme.
Also, she pointed out that the US has so far contributed just a little over $80 million despite its pledge of $200 million over three years. That was less than 14% of a fair share, she said.
Also, the Australian government has not made any financial contribution to the fund since its launch in 2002.
UNAids executive director Peter Piot said it was undeniable that Aids had become a fundamental challenge for social and economic development of the region.
The choice was between acting now or paying more later, he said, after a meeting of the Asia-Pacific Leadership Forum attended by former government leaders including former Thai prime minister Anand Panyarachun and health advocates. In a joint statement, the group urged Apec leaders to personally engage in speaking out and uniting in the struggle against Aids.
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