AIDS funding limited, goes to ‘low-impact’ programs

Erwida Maulia ,  The Jakarta Post ,  Nusa Dua, Bali   |  Wed, 08/12/2009 10:26 PM  |  World

The limited funding for HIV/AIDS in Asia and the Pacific has been unfortunately coupled with ineffective uses of the funds, an expert has warned.

Swarup Sarkar, Asia unit director of the Global Fund, an international donor organization for AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria, said Wednesday while the available financial resources for HIV/AIDS fell short of the actual need, more money had been instead going toactivities having low impacts on curbing the spread of the disease.

He said the available funds to tackle with HIV/AIDS in Asia and the Pacific only amounted to a total of US$0.8 billion (Rp 8 trillion) estimated, compared to the actual need of some $3.1 billion.

But, even the available amounts, such as those for preventive measures, have appeared to mostly go to “low-impact” programs, which have produced little success in preventing new infections.

“More than 80 percent of the available budget has gone to low-risk young people, compared with less than 20 percent that has gone to high-risk young people,” Sarkar said in a session on the funding for HIV/AIDS at the 9th International Congress on AIDS in Asia and the Pacific (ICAAP) in Nusa Dua, Bali.

“Costlier interventions, for example blood safety and safe injection prevent only 1 percent of incidence, but absorbs 25 percent of budget,” he added.

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