RMENIA RECEIVES US$ 4 MILLION FROM THE GLOBAL FUND

Armenpress
Oct 5, 2005

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 5, ARMENPRESS: The Global Fund to fight HIV/AIDS,
Tuberculosis and Malaria (GFATM) has committed a further US$ 4 million
to support the National Program on HIV/AIDS prevention in the Republic
of Armenia for the next 3 years, 2005-2008. This is the Phase II of a
total of US$ 7.2 million GFATM grant. Phase I of the grant – US$ 3.2
million – was successfully completed in September 2005, and Armenia
received a high score from the GFATM for the performance during the
Phase 1.

The official signing ceremony of the Phase II Grant Agreement between
the Global Fund Portfolio Manager for Latin America and Eastern
Europe Dr.

Valery Chernyavskiy and World Vision Armenia National Director
David Thomson took place on October 5 at the Armenia Marriott Hotel
in Yerevan. Government officials and the members of the Country
Coordination Commission on HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria issues
took part at the ceremony, which was followed by the press conference
for journalists. Established in January 2002, the Global Fund aims
to rapidly disburse grants to supplement existing spending on the
prevention and treatment of HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria
while maintaining sufficient oversight of financial transactions
and programs.

The Country Coordination Commission on HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and
Malaria issues in Armenia (CCM) overseas the implementation of the
grant as the coordinating commission for the National Program on
HIV/AIDS activities in the Republic of Armenia. World Vision was
nominated as the Principal Recipient (PR) of the grant in 2003 by
the CCM and, in partnership with different bodies experienced in the
area of HIV/AIDS, works to support the implementation of the National
Program on HIV/AIDS prevention.

For the first time in Armenia PLWH gained access to the antiretroviral
(ARV) therapy thanks to the GFATM grant. Presently, 23 PLWH are
receiving ARV treatment, including 3 children. Through partnership
with the Ministry of Health, the National Center for AIDS Prevention,
Ministries, local and international NGOs, Phase II will build on the
success from Phase I, and will continue to implement a wide range of
activities in the areas of prevention, care and support targeting the
general population with particular emphasis on the youth, key groups,
and PLWH.

“Various governmental, nongovernmental and international organizations
working in the field of HIV/AIDS, as well as representatives
of vulnerable groups and people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWH) have
contributed their potential into the forming multisectoral response to
HIV/AIDS epidemic in the country and in the process of implementation
of the National Program on HIV/AIDS Prevention in the Republic of
Armenia”, said Mkhitar Mnatsakanyan, CCM Chair, President of the
Armenian Red Cross Society.

“Only all together can we address the challenge of HIV/AIDS in Armenia
and The Global Fund gives real chance through support to the National
Program to slow down the rates of HIV infection and to protect the
people of Armenia”, said David Thomson.