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Sudan and the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and MalariaAugust 12, 2009 The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria is the main source of financing for global health initiatives that seek to address these three diseases. Since 2002, it has committed $15.6 billion in grants to 140 countries, saving approximately 2.5 million people from succumbing to these diseases. Sudan has a 1.4% prevalence rate for HIV/AIDS, with about 320,000 people living with the disease. Estimates are that 87,000 people are in need of anti-retroviral (ARV) treatment, with only 1,200 actually receiving the treatment. It is estimated that 158,115 Sudanese have tuberculosis (TB). TB mortality is at 25,562 deaths. There are 2,778, 207 reported cases of malaria. While only 1, 281 malaria-related deaths are reported, it is estimated that there are 31,975 of these deaths. Due to a lack of health infrastructure, conflict and instability in the region, Sudan is currently incapable of addressing these health concerns on its own. It spends only $29 a year for each Sudanese person for health care purposes; not an amount sufficient enough to take care of all health needs. For a total population of 36,900,000 people, there are only 11,083 physicians and 33,354 nursing and midwifery personnel in the entire country. The Global Fund has disbursed $182,759,157 for 11 grants for health initiatives for these three diseases in Sudan. It will eventually disburse a total of $336,583,452 for these grants alone. Most of these grants are awarded to the United Nations Development Program. Examples of some initiatives for these three diseases include training people in the community to distribute condoms, increasing sensitivity to those with HIV/AIDS, implementing cost-effective multiple prevention interventions for malaria, and establishing health facilities that provide TB control services. These initiatives help to fill the health gap left by insufficient health care provisions by the Sudanese government and doing so with much success. The U.S. is not currently appropriating its fair share, based on the size of its economy, to the Global Fund. It must allocate at least $700 million to the Fund in 2009 to avoid cutting back on existing and future grants for crucial health initiatives; what has been allocated falls far short of this mark. In 2010 the U.S. must fulfill its commitment to the Global Fund and contribute $2.7 billion. Historically, the trend is that if the U.S. donates one dollar, combined contributions from rich countries will double that. The U.S. must contribute its share, as well as encourage other countries to do the same, to avoid any necessary cuts to funding due to budget shortfalls. For more information on the Global Fund, see: Africa Action talking points on the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria
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