Global Fund completes reorganization of workforce, tightens focus to 20 'high-impact countries'

The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria "is cutting its workforce and tightening its focus on 20 countries hardest hit by AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria," Reuters reports. Gabriel Jaramillo, who took over as general manager of the fund in January, "said in a statement that the fund had completed a reorganization that would rebalance its workforce with 39 percent more people managing grants and 38 percent fewer in support roles," the news service notes.

"Jaramillo's promise to bring efficiency, accountability and results got a swift vote of confidence from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, which pledged $750 million in January," Reuters states, adding, "But more is needed from governments, which have provided the bulk of the $22.6 billion that has been raised by the Geneva-based organization to date for its work in 150 countries, paying for 3.5 million antiretroviral drug treatments and nine million tuberculosis treatments." According to Reuters, "The fund plans to disburse about $3 billion this year and next, and more resources will now be focused on 20 'high-impact countries' that bear most of the burden of the three diseases, including Nigeria, China, India, Indonesia, and the Democratic Republic of Congo" (Miles, 5/1).