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: “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. www.gnpplus.net

For more information about this news release: Please contact GNP+ (Martin Stolk, Communications officer, by email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , or phone +31-20-423 4114 or +31-6-1991 2406)