3 June 2004
The Minister of Health, Dr Manto Tshabalala-Msimang, has received an apology from the executive director of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB and Malaria, Professor Richard Feachem, for "any irritation and pressure caused by my comments to the media in London" about a week ago.
Professor Feachem's media interview gave rise to media reports that the South African Government had delayed the disbursement of Global Fund grants to local beneficiaries. The Health Department reacted immediately to refute these claims, giving precise details of grant received and transferred to local organizations.
The Minister of Health also wrote directly to Professor Feachem, objecting to his failure to discuss matters directly with the SA government and resorting to the media as the first avenue of communication. She also placed before him a precise record of Global Transfers made to beneficiaries within the country. The document also highlighted that grants made in the second and third round allocations had yet to be disbursed by the Fund.
Dr Tshabalala-Msimang is satisfied that all misconceptions around the projects supported by the Global Fund have been clarified.
A recent media release by Professor Feachem further clarifies the situation and is included for your convenience.
Issued by Ministry of Health
Contact: Sibani Mngadi @ 0827720161
The Global Fund clarifies its position concerning its South African Grants
Geneva, Switzerland - Given substantial media attention around comments made by the Global Fund Executive Director Richard Feachem to the South African Broadcasting Corporation and later statements by the South African Government, the Global Fund would like to clarify its position on the current status of its grants to South Africa.
Contrary to speculation in the media, the Global Fund is not threatening to withdraw any funds from South Africa. Collaboration between the Global Fund and the South African Government is productive and positive. Furthermore, through its seat on the Global Fund Board, South Africa plays an important role in the governance of the Global Fund.
We are encouraged by recent progress and are confident that the programs supported by the Global Fund will contribute substantially to South Africa's struggle with HIV/AIDS.
The Global Fund remains committed to working with the South African Government to find joint solutions to bottlenecks in order to ensure rapid and efficient implementation of the Global Fund-financed programs in South Africa.
To date, the Global Fund has approved proposals for HIV/AIDS prevention, treatment and care worth US$234 million over five years to South Africa.
The Global Fund is a unique global public-private partnership dedicated to attracting and disbursing additional resources to prevent and treat AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria. This partnership between governments, civil society, the private sector and affected communities represents a new approach to international health financing. The Fund works in close collaboration with other bilateral and multilateral organizations to supplement existing efforts dealing with the three diseases. The Global Fund has so far committed $2.1 billion to 225 programs in 121 countries.
The Global Fund has been established as an independent private foundation governed by an international Board. Apart from a high standard of technical quality, the Global Fund attaches no conditions to any of its grants. It is not an implementing agency. It relies on local ownership and planning to ensure that new resources are directed to programs on the frontline of this global effort, reaching those most in need. Its performance-based approach to grant-making - where grants are only disbursed if progress has been measured and verified - is designed to ensure that funds are used efficiently and create real change for people and communities. All programs are monitored by independent organizations contracted by the Global Fund to ensure that its funding has real impact in the fight against the three pandemics.
Information on the work of the Global Fund is available on this website or contact Tim Clark, +41 22 791 17 68, tim.clark@theglobalfund.org.