Bill Gates Foundation to stop funding HIV programmes

Bill Gates has decided to stop funding programmes aimed at controlling HIV/AIDS.

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 Avahans projects to NACO and other partners.

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Even as the government was expecting more funding of $200 million for HIV interventions from the Foundation,Gates has decided to move ahead. Lot of positive lessons have come from Avahan. Our Foundation is very committed. We want to initiate new inventions,new vaccines, he said.

According to officials in the health ministry,with AIDS figures declining,India can take ownership of the programmes and continue looking for donors.

It is a good thing that the Foundation is focussing on all major health problems in Bihar. They work in sync with the policies of the government and it will benefit the country in the long run, said K Sujatha Rao,former DG,NACO,and former health secretary.