Global Health
Global Fund approves emergency funding to guard HIV and TB services in Venezuela after earthquakes – press releases
Global Fund approves emergency funding to guard HIV and TB services in Venezuela following earthquakes
– The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (Global Fund) has approved $1.77 million in emergency financing to assist protect lifesaving HIV and TB treatment services in Venezuela after two powerful earthquakes struck the country on June 24, killing greater than 4,000 people, injuring and displacing hundreds more, and disrupting health care.
Emergency funding from the Global Fund will concentrate on maintaining uninterrupted treatment for people infected with HIV and TB, while restoring prevention, diagnosis and control services in affected areas. The funding, implemented through the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), can even support community response, telemedicine and laboratory services through the emergency response.
The magnitude 7.2 and seven.5 earthquakes were followed by greater than 500 aftershocks, damaging health facilities, disrupting essential infrastructure and forcing hundreds of individuals to hunt temporary shelters. More than 9.7 million people have been affected, with an estimated 31,000 people infected with HIV and a pair of,400 people on TB treatment vulnerable to interruption in care if services aren’t restored quickly.
“Disasters like these test the resilience of health systems, putting at risk the health of people living in affected communities,” said Mark Edington, director of grant management on the Global Fund. “By acting quickly with our partners, we can ensure the earthquake does not derail recent progress in the fight against HIV and TB, supporting health services to continue to provide the care people rely on.”
The investment is anticipated to support continued HIV treatment for roughly 7,000 people, tuberculosis treatment for 500 people, and support for prevention, testing and outreach services to 1,500 people from key and vulnerable populations in probably the most affected areas.
The emergency funds will likely be incorporated into an existing grant from the Global Fund to fight HIV and TB in Venezuela.