Here is the third flagwaving funding announcement. It would be good for the 3D Fund to hold one news conference instead of having the news come out in dribs and drabs.
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Australia Pledges $11 Million US to Fight AIDS, Malaria, Tuberculosis in
Myanmar
Associated Press
22 August 2006
Today, the Australian Embassy in Yangon said it would contribute $11 million US over five years to the Three Diseases Fund, a $100 million joint effort to fight AIDS, TB and malaria in Myanmar. AusAID will disburse the funds to support prevention, treatment, and care through the UN, nongovernmental organizations, community groups, and health care providers. TDF is meant to fill the vacuum left by the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB and Malaria, which withdrew last August, citing Myanmar's travel restrictions on aid workers. Last year in Myanmar, malaria killed an estimated 3,000 people and TB killed 12,000 people. More than 300,000 people have HIV in Myanmar (1.3 percent of adults), and about 25,000 more are infected each year.
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Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID)
18 Aug 2006
Australia helps found new fund to fight diseases in Burma
Australia will provide $15 million over five years towards a new fund established to fight HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria in Burma. The Australian Government will make the contribution to the Three Diseases Fund through its international aid agency AusAID.
Burma has the second highest incidence of HIV/AIDS in Asia and TB and malaria are the leading causes of illness.
The Fund will support vital prevention, treatment and care for the most vulnerable through the UN, international non-government organisations, local civil society organisations and township service providers.
A group of six donors - Australia, United Kingdom, the European Commission, the Netherlands, Norway and Sweden - has developed the initiative as a joint donor response to counter these diseases which continue to have a devastating impact on Burma's population.
The Fund will be managed by the United Nations Office of Project Services (UNOPS).
Continuing commitment by the Burmese authorities will be crucial to the success of the Fund. The Burmese authorities have agreed to facilitate the Fund's operations consistent with internationally recognised humanitarian principles.
The World Health Organization currently ranks Burma as the second worst amongst developing countries in terms of government health care delivery.
The contribution to the Three Diseases Fund will build upon AusAID's humanitarian assistance to Burma, which has focused on health and meeting the needs of vulnerable groups.
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Australia Pledges $11M to Myanmar's TB, Malaria, HIV/AIDS Fund
The Australian Embassy in Myanmar on Tuesday announced that Australia will contribute about $11 million over five years to Myanmar's Three Diseases Fund, which aims to combat tuberculosis, malaria and HIV/AIDS in the country, the Associated Press reports (Associated Press, 8/22). The 3D Fund -- a $100 million, five-year joint donor program -- aims to compensate for grants suspended by the Global Fund To Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (Xinhua/People's Daily, 8/21). The Global Fund in August 2005 announced a suspension of its grants to Myanmar, citing travel and other restrictions implemented by the country's government that impede the delivery of medical supplies and services. The fund in 2004 pledged to spend $98 million over five years to fight the three diseases in the country (Kaiser Daily HIV/AIDS Report, 8/11). The 3D Fund will help provide insecticide-treated nets to prevent malaria; increase access to TB diagnosis and treatment; and promote condom use and expand HIV testing, treatment and care (Xinhua/People's Daily, 8/21). Australia will make its contribution through its government aid program AusAID, and the country will support prevention, treatment and care in Myanmar through the United Nations, nongovernmental organizations, civil society groups and health care providers (Associated Press, 8/22). Along with AusAID, the U.K. Department for International Development, the European Commission, Sweden's Sida, the Netherlands and Norway helped establish the 3D Fund. About 97,000 new TB cases and 12,000 TB deaths are recorded in Myanmar annually, and malaria is one of the leading causes of death among children under age five in the country. According to UNAIDS, up to 610,000 people, or 2.2% of the population, are living with HIV in Myanmar (Kaiser Daily HIV/AIDS Report, 8/11).
