Nepal welcomes Global Fund money for disease programmes

Nepal has welcomed the announcement that it is to receive a significant funding boost in its battle to prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS, TB and malaria.

Following funding proposals submitted earlier this year, the UN Global Fund for AIDS, TB and Malaria this week said that it is to provide Nepal with $76 million (£38 million) of funding to combat the three deadly diseases.

The country will receive $36.6 million (£18.3 million) for HIV/AIDS, $15.5 million (£7.75 million) for its fight against TB and $25.7 million (£12.8 million) for malaria programs.

Welcoming the decision, a leading Nepalese HIV activist praised the hard work that had gone into securing the funding.

Rajiv Kafle, president of the National Association of People Living with HIV in Nepal, said: "We have worked really hard to prepare these proposals and are delighted to know that the proposals have been approved for funding."

According to World Health Organization figures, there were 75,000 people living with HIV/AIDS in Nepal in 2005, while the country reported over 33,000 cases of TB in the same year.

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