The International HIV AIDS Alliance and IDA ARV Procurement Services B.V. recently joined hands to realise a Global Fund delivery of antiretrovirals for 2000 patients within a few months time after the recent re-launch of the grant. A contract, worth 3,6 million dollars, was signed between the two parties, for the delivery of multi-source antiretrovirals in 2004.
Beginning 2004 the Global Fund requested the HIV AIDS Alliance, to take over implementation of the programs for several months. The Ukraine lagged substantially behind its targets to prevent the spread of HIV and provide treatment to people living with the virus, so HIV AIDS Alliance was called for help. This gives the Ukraine the opportunity to address concerns of slow implementation, management and governance issues.
The main goals after the hand over to the HIV AIDS Alliance were to ensure the epidemic not spreading further and those who need treatment receiving treatment. The International HIV/AIDS Alliance, a sub-recipient in the previous grant structure, is now the sole principal recipient administering funds to implementers of the program’s four components: care and support of people living with HIV/AIDS, a general risk reduction campaign, targeted treatment and prevention programs for high-risk populations, and monitoring and evaluation. The Government of the Ukraine, which chairs the Country Coordinating Mechanism and through the Ministry of Health has pledged its support and assistance to this process and to the Alliance and IDA ARV B.V.
The Global Fund has approved three grants worth a total of $25 million over two years to Ukraine. Among the programs’ targets is the expansion of the number of people receiving AIDS treatment from less than 60 to 4,000 within two years. The first 2000 patients will soon benefit from the joint efforts of IDA ARV B.V. and the HIV AIDS Alliance.
Global Fund
The Global Fund is a unique global public-private partnership dedicated to attracting and disbursing additional resources to prevent and treat AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria. This partnership between governments, civil society, the private sector and affected communities represents a new approach to international health financing. The Fund works in close collaboration with other bilateral and multilateral organizations to supplement existing efforts dealing with the three diseases. The Global Fund has so far committed $2.1 billion to 225 programs in 121 countries.