Voice of America - November 17, 2005
Joe De Capua
Washington

Click to download/open (MP3)
Click to download/open (Real Audio)

The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria says it is reviewing two grants given to Nigeria worth nearly 70 million dollars over five years. However, the Global Fund denies published reports that the action is being taken because of alleged wrongdoing.

Jon Liden is the chief spokesman for the fund. From Geneva, he spoke with English to Africa reporter Joe De Capua about the grant review for Nigeria.

He says, "The Global Fund works in the way that we finance grants based on performance. And every grant, every one of our 350 grants, are reviewed around their second birthday for their performance. And the initial commitments of funds for these grants are only for two years."

If the review gives high marks to the work being done under the grants, they are usually funded for another three years. Since every grant given by the Global Fund goes through this process, Mr. Liden makes clear that the review process does not automatically mean there's a problem. He calls published reports of such problems in Nigeria "speculation" based on partial information.

051117
VA051111

Copyright © 2005 - Voice of America. You are welcome to use any material that is published by voanews.com, or you may link to any of the web pages that Voice of America has published on the internet. There is no need to request further permission. Should you wish to establish a link to any VOA web pages, please send your request to pubaff@ibb.gov. We would appreciate that credit for any use of VOA material be given to voanews.com, Voice of America, or VOA, and we ask that you not abridge or edit any VOA material which you may use.

AEGiS is a 501(c)3, not-for-profit, tax-exempt, educational corporation. AEGiS is made possible through unrestricted grants from Boehringer Ingelheim, Elton John AIDS Foundation, the National Library of Medicine, Bridgestone Firestone Trust Fund, and donations from users like you. Always watch for outdated information. This article first appeared in 2005. This material is designed to support, not replace, the relationship that exists between you and your doctor.

AEGiS presents published material, reprinted with permission and neither endorses nor opposes any material. All information contained on this website, including information relating to health conditions, products, and treatments, is for informational purposes only. It is often presented in summary or aggregate form. It is not meant to be a substitute for the advice provided by your own physician or other medical professionals. Always discuss treatment options with a doctor who specializes in treating HIV.

Copyright ©1980, 2005. AEGiS. All materials appearing on AEGiS are protected by copyright as a collective work or compilation under U.S. copyright and other laws and are the property of AEGiS, or the party credited as the provider of the content. .