Singapore, Nov 17, 2008: US based Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, launched by the G8 club of major industrial nations in 2002, gave a cold shoulder to India in its eighth round of funding for these diseases.

 

It is said that, India had its application for around $128 million turned down because of the flaw in the soundness of its approach. On the other hand Zimbabwe was promised a funding of $169 million. It is the largest round in the history of the organization, well over twice the size of any previous round.

 

“This is the highest amount of new financing approved by the Global Fund ever. These resources will significantly help the world in achieving global targets such as universal access to AIDS treatment and prevention, and cutting the number of deaths from tuberculosis and malaria by half by 2015,” said Mr Rajat Gupta, Chairmain, Global Fund Board.

 

India has previously received $490 million worth of grants. The grants are the highest amount of new financing the Global Fund has approved, bringing its portfolio to $14.4 billion in 140 countries. Of the approved proposals, the majority of resources go to malaria programs accounting for 51 percent.  Proposals for AIDS and tuberculosis account for 38 percent and 11 percent, respectively, of the approved funding.