Global Fund commitment to $175M annually in 2006, 2007

U.K. International Development Secretary Hilary Benn on 29 July announced that the United Kingdom will nearly double its financial commitment to the Global Fund To Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria from approximately $89.5 million annually to about $175 million annually in 2006 and 2007, Reuters UK reports.

The increased funding makes Britain the funds fourth largest donor, Benn said, adding that the country now will provide 20% of the total worldwide expenditure to the fight against HIV/AIDS. The U.K. is committed to the fight against AIDS. The Global Fund needs more money, and we hope other donors will also significantly increase their contributions, Benn said in a statement. The U.K. plans to spend approximately $2.6 billion over the next three years on the fight against the HIV/AIDS pandemic, a large part of which will be used in Africa, according to Benn (Reuters UK, 7/29).