Nearly R900-million was earmarked in donor funds from a variety of sources to fight Aids in South Africa during the next five years, says Health Minister Manto Tshalabala-Msimang.
Replying to a question from Inkatha Freedom Party MP Ruth Rabinowitz who asked whether any money had been donated to the government by international donor funds to combat Aids, she said there were several donor agencies that were active in supporting government — both national and provincial — in the fight against HIV/Aids, STIs and TB.
These agencies included UNAIDS, the European Union, the US government, the German Development Bank, the United Kingdom Government, the Royal Danish Government and the Royal Belgian Government.
USAID (part of the US component) was scheduled to provided R202-million during 2003, a further US component was scheduled to provide R30-million, while the German Development Bank was scheduled to provide R78-million in 2003-04.
The British government was to provide R382-million in 2003-08, while Denmark was to provide R117-million between 2002 and 2006 and the Belgian government was scheduled to provide R54-million between 2002-07.
In addition the EU was scheduled to provide R26-million between 2002- 03.
The minister, however, emphasised that not all the funding was available to government but also other stakeholders including NGOs and larger organisations such as the Nelson Mandela Foundation.
She noted that the British funds were targeted to the education, social development and defence departments. – I-Net Bridge