Global Fund Releases Overdue Grants in South Africa

After seven months of delays, the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria has released some of the funds it owes to seven South African HIV/AIDS organizations, PlusNews reports.

The $7.1 million in grant money released to the South African treasury on February 6—of which $2.7 million will be disbursed to the seven grantees at the end of February—comprises only half the Global Fund's obligations for the latter half of 2011 and covers only human resource expenses.

It's not known when the remaining 2011 funds or the funds for 2012 will be handed over, though the Global Fund claims that future disbursements should be speedier. The Global Fund and the grantees each blame the other for the funding delays, which have caused a significant interruption in South Africa's HIV/AIDS services and forced the closure of some programs—and may lead to further shutdowns before the crisis is over.

To read the PlusNews article, visit: http://www.plusnews.org/report.aspx?ReportID=94927&utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter.

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