Source: Western Cape Provincial Government
Title: Van Schalkwyk: Reception for Global Fund executive director
EXTRACT FROM REMARKS BY THE WESTERN CAPE PREMIER, MARTHINUS VAN SCHALKWYK, SPEAKING AT A RECEPTION FOR GLOBAL FUND EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR DR RICHARD FEACHAM, Leeuwenhof, 10 April 2003
The commitment of the Western Cape Government to the fight against HIV/AIDS is unwavering. Developing countries like South Africa cannot significantly advance this fight alone. It is only through partnerships starting at community level with doctors, clinics and community organisations, and at the international level with multi-national organisations like the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB and Malaria, that we will begin to turn the tide of infection. We must transform AIDS from being a terminal disease into a manageable one. It is for this reason that our Provincial Government is pleased and proud to welcome Dr Richard Feacham, the Executive Director of the Global Fund, to the Western Cape.
On behalf of the people of the Western Cape, we would like to congratulate Dr Feacham and our national government on the signing of the agreement to donate US$41 million (almost R330 million) to South Africa's integrated TB/HIV programme. Although the division of the allocation to national government has not yet been finalised, we expect that 5-10% of these funds will ultimately benefit the Western Cape - primarily for supporting and expanding HIV testing at TB clinics.
Although US$2.15 billion was already committed to the Global Fund by the end of last year, it is clear that this is not sufficient for a successful global campaign. It has been estimated (1) that US$7-10 billion will be needed annually to advance the fight in low and middle-income countries. Although the Global Fund is only one source of such support, it is increasingly important and deserves higher contributions from the nations of the G8 and other countries with strong economies.
Our Provincial Government is particularly proud of the fact that we have achieved 100% coverage in our programme for the Prevention of Mother to Child Transmission (PMTCT) of HIV/AIDS. By ensuring that every pregnant woman attending public maternity services in our province and delivering their babies in public health delivery sites now has access to this critical AIDS transmission prevention programme we are saving the lives of more than a thousand new-borns every year.
We do not, however, have sufficient funds to provide antiretroviral drugs to treat the mothers of these children and in so doing, secure their families. Although we have initiated pilot projects in areas like Gugulethu to examine the possibilities of introducing triple-therapy antiretroviral treatments for people living with HIV/AIDS, the costs continue to be prohibitive - in the region of R5000 per person per year.
The Western Cape will be participating in the future country applications for support from the Global Fund, and it is our hope that the Global Fund will be a potential source for funding such treatment programmes on a wider scale in the future.
(1) By UN Secretary General Annan
Enquiries: Riaan Aucamp, Cell: 083-778-9923
Issued by the Office of the Premier, Western Cape Provincial Government, 10 April 2003
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