Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 2003. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
Sunday Times - Monday, November 17, 2003
Van Schalkwyk and Western Cape Minister for Health Piet Meyer made the announcement in Geneva, Switzerland, following a meeting with Elhadj Sy, the Global Fund's Portfolio Director for Africa.
"The Western Cape submitted a proposal to the Global Fund in August this year for substantial funding in support of our fight against HIV/Aids," van Schalkwyk explained. "Our meeting today was to discuss the last details of that proposal as well as the way forward. It is my great pleasure to be able to confirm that a contribution by the Global Fund of up to US$66.5 million has been approved in principal over a period of five years. Once finalised, this will be both the largest and the single most important international contribution to health in our province."
The premier said the grant amounted to a major motion of confidence by the global community in the Western Cape's existing Aids programmes, its future plans, and its ability to manage a major multi-year project.
The grant would be used in addition to the money provided for HIV-Aids programmes in the Western Cape health budget, and would be specifically targeted at Western Cape communities to: provide anti-retroviral treatment; deepen peer-education programmes, especially among youth; improve hospice and step-down care; and strengthen the community-based responses to Aids.
"The in-principle approval of these funds is an important breakthrough for our government as we prepare to rapidly roll out anti-retroviral treatment to expanded numbers of people living with HIV-Aids in our province," Van Schalkwyk elaborated. "We stand ready to enter the next phase of our battle against HIV-Aids.
"This funding will boost the ability of our government to act swiftly to implement anti-retroviral treatment in the province and will significantly boost our ability to save the lives of thousands of our people in the Western Cape and to improve the quality of life of thousands more."
"The Western Cape has already gained international recognition for having the fastest and one of the most effective roll-outs of a prevention of mother-to-child transmission programme, which earlier this year effectively achieved 100% provincial coverage. We have also negotiated important international agreements on treatment with NGOs like MSF (Doctors Without Borders) and Crusaid, and signed an agreement with one of the major international pharmaceutical companies for free Nevirapine in the province," said the premier.
"It is our intention, should everything go according to plan, to make a formal announcement confirming the details of the roll-out of this project on International Aids Day, December 1 this year," he said. "We are hoping that amongst the most senior representatives of the Global Fund will join us for that important event."
The Global Fund to Fight Aids, TB and Malaria was set up in 2001 on the initiative of United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan as a mechanism to finance Aids, TB and Malaria interventions on a scale appropriate to the effort required to combat these diseases.
Since 2001, the Global Fund has attracted $4.7 billion in financing through 2008.
In its first two rounds of grants, it has committed $1.5 billion in funding to support 154 programs in 93 countries worldwide.
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