Congress Approves FY2009 Omnibus Appropriations Bill with $900 Million for The G...( Bill Ensures Greater Prevention Treat...),Health

Bill Ensures Greater Prevention, Treatment and Care Services for People around the World Affected by AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria

WASHINGTON, March 11 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Late yesterday the U.S. Senate voted to pass H.R. 1105, the Omnibus Appropriations bill for fiscal year 2009. The bill, passed by the House of Representatives last week, contains an appropriation of $900 million for the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria.

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"In these challenging economic times, the United States Congress has demonstrated real leadership," said Friends of the Global Fight Executive Director, Natasha Bilimoria. "Global Fund financing fights HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria around the world, thanks to the dedicated support of members of Congress including Senators Richard Durbin (D-IL), Patrick Leahy (D-VT), and Arlen Specter (R-PA), Representatives David Obey (D-WI), Nita Lowey (D-NY), Barbara Lee (D-CA), and Jesse Jackson, Jr. (D-IL), as well as Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA)."

At the end of 2008, Global Fund-supported programs had averted more than 3.5 million deaths by providing AIDS treatment for two million people, anti-tuberculosis treatment for 4.6 million people and 70 million insecticide-treated bed nets for the prevention of malaria. To date, the Global Fund has approved $15 billion in funding.

In the seven years since its inception, the Global Fund has grown capacity for health programs in developing countries to meet the challenges presented by HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria within their borders. At its last meeting in India, the Global Fund Board of Directors approved the largest round of financing in the history of the organization (more than double any previous round), with 94 new grants wort
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