While the pharmaceutical industry has spent hundreds of millions of dollars on advertising, lobbying, and political campaign contributions in the last few years, a new Congressional study has found that the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB and Malaria is threatened by a lack of money.

The study by the General Accounting Office reports the fund does not have enough money to fund more than a small number of programs.

The director of the fund told a congressional committee yesterday it will to raise more than $1 billion very soon if it hopes to support all the worthy applications for grants it expects this year.

The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB and Malaria was created by the United Nations and the G8 group of industrialized nations in 2001. AIDS, TB and malaria kill a total of 6 million people a year around the world. Over 5,000 people die of AIDS every day in Africa alone. 3,000 African children die every day of malaria.

The fund had asked for $3.5 billion a year from the United States. The US gave $200 million last year and Bush’s plan would add $200 million a year.

• Dr. Paul Zeitz, Executive Director, Global AIDS Alliance.
• Adrienne Germain, president, International Women’s Health Coalition.

Related links:

• Global AIDS Alliance
• International Women’s Health Coalition