Gates Foundation to stop funding HIV programmes

March 25, 2011

Teena Thacker : Fri Mar 25 2011, 03:21 hrs New Delhi:

Microsoft founder and philanthropist Bill Gates has decided to stop funding

programmes aimed at controlling HIV/AIDS. For nine-long years, the Bill and

Melinda Gates Foundation has funded HIV prevention programmes.

And it is learnt that Union Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad had asked Gates to

continue supporting the next phase of National AIDS Control Programme. However,

Gates on Thursday made it clear that there will be no more large funding by the

Foundation.

" The overall initiative has been a success. As far as the funding is concerned

the large funding has already been done by us, " he said, adding that most of the

ongoing work will now be funded by the government.

Launched in 2003, Avahan, an initiative to reduce the spread of HIV by Bill and

Melinda Gates Foundation, began its work in India with a commitment of $200

million. This was increased to $258 million and then to $338 million in 2009.

In 2009, the National AIDS Control Organisation (NACO) entered into a memorandum

of understanding with Avahan — a reaffirmation of its commitment to HIV

prevention as well as the beginning of transition of Avahan's projects to NACO

and other partners.

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