Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 2007. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
The New York Times - September 28, 2007
Donald G. Mcneil Jr.
Kofi Annan, the former United Nations secretary general, who led the creation of the multilateral fund in 2002, said he was "very pleased with the pledges made." Some outside campaigners, however, expressed disappointment.
"Today's pledges are welcome, but more needs to be mobilized," said ActionAid, a coalition of groups pushing for more health care for poor countries. It applauded the size of gifts from Spain ($600 million), Norway ($205 million), Sweden ($281 million) and the Netherlands ($326 million), while saying the largest donors, including Germany ($849 million), France ($1.3 billion) and Britain ($729 million), could have done more, given the strength of their economies.
The donations - meant to be spent over the next three years - do not include new pledges by the United States or Japan.
The United States committed only to maintain its annual contribution level, which would add up to $2.2 billion over the three years, until Congress passes a new budget. Japan wants to announce its contribution when it plays host to the Group of 8 summit meeting next year; if it stayed level, it would be $184 million.
Other big donors included the European Commission, which pledged $425 million, and the Gates Foundation, which pledged $300 million.
The fund, which has spent about $7 billion in 136 countries since 2002, is the chief source of money for the fight against the three diseases. It says it has saved two million lives so far, largely through the distribution of mosquito nets and the provision of anti-AIDS drugs.
To hope to bring the diseases under control, the fund calculates that it will need to be spending $8 billion a year by 2010.
The next biggest sources of funds are two separate programs established by the Bush administration to fight AIDS and malaria.
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