UGANDA TO MISS OUT ON HIV, MALARIA FUNDING

HIV treatment programs in Uganda could be disrupted following a decision by the Global Fund to fight Aids, Tuberculosis and Malaria to exclude the country from its list of beneficiaries, a senior government official told the UN Integrated Regional Information Networks (IRIN).

"We had presented a funding request for three years totaling US $111 million, of which we expected at least $35 million. But it was not approved," Kihumuro Appuli, head of the country's AIDS Commission, said.

According to the final list of approved proposals on the organization's website, Uganda has missed out on funding for HIV and malaria, which would have included antiretroviral and anti-malarial drugs. However, it received a two-year grant of $10.7 million to fight tuberculosis (TB), which would bring to $26 million the total funds the country has received for TB.

Last week, the fund's board approved the sixth round of 85 new grants totaling $847 million. These new commitments expand its portfolio to $6.6 billion through more than 460 grants in 136 countries, according to IRIN.

According to the Kampala-based news agency The Monitor, the country has until Dec. 1 to appeal the Global Fund's decision.