SA Minister slams Global Fund
South African health minister Manto Tshabalala-Msimang has criticised
the Global Fund for HIV, TB and Malaria for bypassing the national government
and giving $60 million directly to Aids projects in the state of KwaZulu
Natal. Without a trace of irony, she told a youth rally in Johannesburg:
"Perhaps this is because the fund does not trust governments elected
by the people."
Back sacked HIV worker
Gay human rights watchdog Peter Tatchell has asked us to publicise the
case of Mr Parnell Christian, a former civil servant in the British Virgin
Islands (BVI) who was recently fired solely because he is living with
HIV. Christian needs to work to afford his antiretroviral therapy. Activists
are asking for protests to the British Foreign Office, the BVI government
and Tourism Office. For details, visit the Hirschfield Centre website
at: www.geocities.com
SA mining firm backs down
on antiretrovirals
Mining giant Anglo American has now agreed to provide antiretrovirals
(ARVs) to all HIV positive employees who need them. The firm, one of the
largest employers in South Africa, was subject to intense criticism by
treatment activists when it provided ARVs to its managers but not its
miners.
lobal Fund 'has yet to give away a single penny'
One of the most disturbing stories to emerge as we went to press (see
Barcelona
News, Pages 28 & 29) is a report from the Wall Street Journal
which alleges that the Global Fund to fight Aids,TB and Malaria has yet
to give away a single penny despite announcing $1.6 billion in grants
to projects in 40 countries. The newspaper says that this is largely due
to demands from the Bush administration that the Fund set up a worldwide
aid delivery system from scratch and not rely on existing agencies, such
as the UN and World Bank. A lack of infrastructure, staff or even offices
for the Fund is leading to more delays in getting money to where it is
desperately needed.
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