Scott Filler | The Global Fund

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July 13, 2015

Global Fund provides $17M For HIV Programs

Even with all the support and money allocated to the fight against Malaria, AIDS, and Tuberculosis, The Global Fund is taking no chances and continuing to fight the deadly viruses which affect Africa and other Eastern countries. The Global Fund is going to allocate the $17 million to two organizations which are focused on the prevention and care for HIV/AIDS.

The first organization which will be receiving a budget of $11.4 million US dollars is, Key Populations – Representation, Evidence and Attitude Change for Health Impact’ (KP REACH). KP REACH will be focusing on countries which are most affected by HIV: South Africa, Swaziland, Lesotho, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Zambia, and Malawi.

The second organization to receive funding is The Kenya AIDS NGO Consortium (KANCO). The organization will be funded $5.5 million US dollars to help with research to help curb the HIV rise. 

With drug usage a major concern, and the sharing of needles leading the epidemic. The money is expected to help the spread of dirty needles, as well as deter drug usage as a whole. This initiative is The Global Fund’s attempt to finally eradicate the deadly virus. As they look to fight off Malaria, HIV/AIDS is beginning to take a more prominent role in their eyes due to the numbers of lives being lost daily.

With the recent allocation, officials are hoping to get help from the states which are being given funds to truly take advantage and understand what is at hand.

For more Global Fund information, please visit Scott Filler’s Official website.

April 27, 2015

Global Fund – Progress

The fight to cure malaria has yielded some spectacular results this year, news which is welcomed by Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance and the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria. The results come from the phase three trial of RTS,S, a malaria vaccine candidate.

So far, RTS,S has shown a 54% reduction in cases of clinical malaria over the first year of follow-up and a 36% reduction in clinical malaria over a 48 month period among children vaccinated between 5-17 months old who received four doses of RTS,S. The five year trial involved 15,459 children and infants, and concluded in January. Overall, more than 1,700 cases of clinical malaria were averted per 1,000 children vaccinated across different trial sites on average.

Leaders of both Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance and the Global Fund have voice their satisfaction upon hearing this results and hope that a vaccine like RTS,S can become the powerful and newest addition to the tools used to fight malaria. Yearly, malaria leads to the death of thousands of children across developing countries, in particular the sub-Saharan Africa region. The Global Fund has been one of many organizations that has mounted efforts to curb the rise of malaria.

Currently, RTS,S is being reviewed by the European Medicines Agency, which is expected to provide a scientific opinion later in the year. If the opinion of the European Medicines Agency is positive, that would give the green light for the World Health Organization to make recommendations on the use of RTS,S. Ultimately, this is the hope of the Global Fund and Gavi, who wish to add RTS,S to the current methods for combating malaria which include mosquito nets and indoor spraying.

For more news and updates on The Global Fund, please visit Scott Filler‘s official website.

March 27, 2015

$30 Million To Fight Malaria & TB

The entire globe is out on a mission, that mission is to wipe out two very deadly diseases. Australia has promised $30 million dollars to fight against Malaria and Tuberculosis. Roughly $10 million will be given immediately to support a late-stage treatment for Tuberculosis, and $10 million will also be given to help find tools to develop drugs to help fight Malaria. The other $10 million will be distributed accordingly depending on which area needs the extra funding. Foreign Minister Julie Bishop at AUSMIN meeting

Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop explained the reason for funding the two diseases, “Drug resistant TB and malaria pose a threat to health security in our region and carry a high burden for our Asia-Pacific neighbours.” With the obvious concern of Malaria in developing countries in the Indo-Pacific area, Australia felt it was necessary to help out since the proximity of these nations and the potential harm it can cause if TB or Malaria makes it way to the island. Rather then take such a big risk, the best move for themselves and the world is to attempt to wipe out such deadly forces in the region. Australia has seen over 1,300 cases of TB since 2011 and the numbers of cases are slowly rising which is a major concern for the Australian government.

Every year roughly 1.2 million people die in the Indo-Pacific due to Tuberculosis, and these cases are spreading to developed countries and continents. The world is on high alert in hopes to fight and prevent the spread of these problems. The Global Fund is advocating for countries around the world to help fight since this is a global epidemic. Not only the problems of the few under developed countries.

For more updates on Malaria and The Global Fund, please visit Scott Filler‘s official website.