Global Fund Director says G20 can become donor nations

Reuters examines Global Fund to Fight HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria Executive Director Michel Kazatchkine's recent comments on the sidelines of the 9th International Conference on AIDS in Asia and the Pacific (ICAAP), that some emerging nations should consider becoming donor nations.

Pointing to Brazil, China, Mexico and South Africa as examples of countries who "may now be in a position to offer a hand to poorer countries that need help," Kazatchkine explained, "As these countries come in and play more political leadership roles, they have to enter into the global solidarity effort when it comes to health … I really think it is time for the G20, which is 85 percent of the world's economy, to come into the circle of donors. The Global Fund has to expand."

Though "[t]he Global Fund received $10 billion in pledges from G8 group of countries to fight HIV/AIDS, TB and malaria for the years 2008 to 2010," there is growing concern the current economic crisis will hurt international commitments to health spending, Reuters writes. The Global Fund "will soon need to lobby donor nations for money for the next three-year cycle, 2011 to 2013, the last lap before the 2015 deadline for the Millennium Development Goals" (Lyn, 8/11).

UNAIDS Director Outlines Ways To Reduce Spread Of HIV In Asia

Of the "more than 1,000 people [who] become infected with HIV in Asia each day," most "infections could have been averted if only we had invested in reaching populations at higher risk and their partners -- at a cost of less than half a U.S. dollar per person," Michel Sidibé, executive director of UNAIDS, writes in an opinion piece appearing in China Daily. Sidibé outlines four points that can help "transform the AIDS response so that it works for the people -- especially for the marginalized and the voiceless" (Sidibé, 8/12).

Jakarta Post Examines Efforts To Educate, Protect Women From Spread Of HIV In Papua

The Jakarta Post examines the ongoing efforts in the province of Papua to educate women about how to protect themselves against HIV/AIDS. Speaking at the ICAAP, Papua HIV/AIDS Commission chairman Constant Karma described how through collaborations between his organization and non-governmental organizations and corporations, more than 265,000 women received female condoms. "The promotion of female condoms among sex workers and housewives will give women more bargaining power ... while simultaneously reducing the spread of HIV/AIDS," Jayapura Social Development Foundation director Tahi Butar-butar said (Sijabat, 8/12).

IPS Examines 'Scant Presence of Mainstream Media' At Asia's Largest HIV/AIDS Meeting

Inter Press Service examines the "scant presence of mainstream media" at ICCAP – a sign "the press was overlooking the big story on HIV/AIDS, say some journalists and development analysts" (8/12).