WB focusing on easing economic damage inflicted by disease in Africa
Friday, 30 November 2007
WASHINGTON, Nov 29 (Reuters): Overtaken as the largest funder of global HIV/AIDS programmes, the World Bank is now focusing on easing the economic damage inflicted by the disease in Africa and finding ways of controlling its spread through better prevention, care and treatment.
Its changing role has been forced by billions now available through the Bush administration's President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, or PEPFAR, the Geneva-based Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria and the Gates Foundation.
Global funding for AIDS reached $9 billion in 2007 compared to $1.6 billion available in 2001.
The World Bank's vice president for Africa, Obiageli Ezekwesili, said a new 5-year action plan for fighting the HIV/AIDS pandemic in Africa sought to ratchet up the bank's role as an adviser to governments and its power to bring together donors to ensure AIDS funding is properly used.
In addition, the World Bank would increase its work among high-risk groups such as prostitutes and commercial sex workers or in other areas where donors were absent, such as countries emerging from conflict.
"The landscape has changed since the bank first took the leadership on HIV/AIDS in 1999 so we have needed to go back to reflect on our future role," Ezekwesili told newsmen.
Its changing role has been forced by billions now available through the Bush administration's President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, or PEPFAR, the Geneva-based Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria and the Gates Foundation.
Global funding for AIDS reached $9 billion in 2007 compared to $1.6 billion available in 2001.
The World Bank's vice president for Africa, Obiageli Ezekwesili, said a new 5-year action plan for fighting the HIV/AIDS pandemic in Africa sought to ratchet up the bank's role as an adviser to governments and its power to bring together donors to ensure AIDS funding is properly used.
In addition, the World Bank would increase its work among high-risk groups such as prostitutes and commercial sex workers or in other areas where donors were absent, such as countries emerging from conflict.
"The landscape has changed since the bank first took the leadership on HIV/AIDS in 1999 so we have needed to go back to reflect on our future role," Ezekwesili told newsmen.