UNAIDS Estimates Funding Needs To Fight Pandemic

UNAIDS Estimates Funding Needs To Fight Pandemic In 2008 Will Be $22 Billion

New York, Jun 22 2005

The developing world will need $22 billion in 2008 to reverse the spread of HIV/AIDS, according to new estimates by the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS).

"We have come a long way in mobilizing extra funds for AIDS, moving from millions to billions, but we still fall short of the $22 billion needed in 2008," UNAIDS Executive Director Peter Piot said. "AIDS poses an exceptional threat to humanity and the response needs to be equally exceptional, recognizing the urgency as well as the need for long-term planning and financing."

The revised figures include funding needs of about $15 billion in 2006 and $18 billion in 2007. The funds cover prevention, treatment and care, support for orphans and vulnerable children, programme management, building new hospitals and clinics and training and recruiting new doctors and nurses, the Programme said.

By 2008, the money would pay for comprehensive prevention, anti-retroviral treatment for 6.6 million people, or 75 per cent of those in need worldwide and full coverage of orphans in Sub-Saharan Africa, UNAIDS said. It would also fund 1,000 new health centres by 2010 and pay for the renovation of 19,000 existing health centres and 800 hospitals.

The UNAIDS Secretariat said it developed the figures using the latest available information and with input from the newly established Resource Needs Steering Committee and Technical Working Group comprising economists and AIDS experts from donor and developing countries, civil society, UN agencies and other international organizations.

ENDS

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