[Viva] Fwd: World AIDS Day 2011

[Margarite Sanchez]

Hi all you beautiful people,
Wishing you all a happy and healthy World AIDS Day. Please do something
nice for yourselves today.
With love and gratitude,
Margarite

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: GNP+ Communications <communications at gnpplus.net>
Date: Wed, Nov 30, 2011 at 12:40 AM
Subject: World AIDS Day 2011: To Reach HIV Goals, World Must Invest Now!
To: margaritesanchez at gmail.com


*On World AIDS Day 2011 the Global Network of People living with HIV
(GNP+) calls for countries to resolve the funding challenge of the
global HIV response to take full advantage of the unparalleled
opportunities offered by newly available treatment and prevention
options. *

People living with HIV worldwide are shocked by the decision of the
Global Fund to fight AIDS, TB and Malaria to postpone Funding Round 11
due to a shortfall in financial contributions of donor countries. This
is especially disheartening because in the past year, countries and
agencies have shown an increased commitment towards the scale up of
HIV treatment, as well as prevention of vertical transmission.

"Donor countries should be ashamed of themselves," says Anna Zakowicz,
co-chair of GNP+, adding, "The Global Fund is one of the world’s
most effective HIV funding mechanisms. To not support the Fund means
to halt the progress made to date and put millions of lives at risk
around the world."

"An enormous opportunity to turn the tide of HIV is being lost because
governments have decided to save money, and not continue to save
lives," she said. Approximately half of all people living with HIV
receiving HIV treatment today do so because of the Global Fund.

Just recently the prospect of ending AIDS related deaths within a
generation had been a bright beacon of hope for all involved in the
HIV response. Last month, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton
acknowledged again the short and long-term economic benefits of
scaling up investment in treatment access for national economies and
reduction in health care costs.

"The short fall in funding makes no sense as most countries realise
that investing in HIV treatment and prevention is essential for a
healthy economy," says Anuar Luna, co-chair of GNP+: "More treatment
access saves the lives of people living with HIV and reduces the size
of the HIV epidemic as a whole. People will stay economical active for
longer, and there will be fewer new infections."

On World AIDS Day, GNP+ calls for donor countries to reconsider their
priorities and fulfil their pledges to the Global Fund without delay.
All countries should deliver upon their commitments under the UN High
Level Meeting Political Declaration and other international
agreements.

In addition GNP+ encourages countries, agencies and organisations to
implement Positive Health, Dignity and Prevention. This people centred
and human rights based approach, putting people living with HIV at the
centre of the HIV response is instrumental in "Getting to Zero".

GNP+ will release Operational Guidelines for Positive Health, Dignity
and Prevention in early 2012. These guidelines will provide mechanisms
for countries to measure how well and appropriate treatment and
services are designed and delivered for people living with HIV.

"Increasing access to treatment is more than simply increasing the
number of pills distributed," says Kevin Moody, International
Coordinator and CEO of GNP+: "It is about finding innovative ways to
organize treatment and prevention support and services to provide
quality care for people living with HIV and to optimize the
effectiveness of treatment and prevention, as well as
cost-efficiency."

According to the Global Fund, Round 11 will be changed into a
Transitional Funding Mechanism (TFM). This transitional mechanism
should allow for the Global Fund to meet its commitments to Phase 2
renewals and Round 10 grants. The Global Fund decision means that the
next opportunity for countries to apply for new funding will be during
2014-2016.

For countries that are coming to the end of their grant and had
planned to apply for Round 11, the Transitional Funding Mechanism will
ensure essential prevention, treatment and care services can continue.
There are however concerns whether this mechanism will cover much
needed services such as TB prevention and treatment for people living
with HIV, as well as other malaria and TB related treatment,
prevention and support programmes.

"We commend the Global Fund on making responsible decisions focused on
continuing existing commitments," says Kevin Moody, adding "However,
there is no doubt that these decisions will affect people living with
HIV, TB and malaria globally. Most affected will be the people that
will die without the benefit of access to treatment, prevention and
services that would have taken place under Round 11 funding."

*The Global Network of People living with HIV (GNP+)* is the global
network for and by people living with HIV. GNP+ advocates to improve
the quality of life of people living with HIV. Driven by the needs of
people living with HIV worldwide, GNP+ supports people living with HIV
through their organisations and networks. GNP+ works to ensure
equitable access to health and social services, by focusing on social
justice, rights and more meaningful involvement of people living with
HIV in programme and policy development - the GIPA principle.
http://www.gnpplus.net

*For more information about this news release:* Please contact GNP+
(Martin Stolk, Communications officer, by email mstolk at gnpplus.net
<mailto:mstolk at gnpplus.net>
, or phone +31-20-423 4114 or +31-6-1991 2406)



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