Global Fund millions approved

South Africa's Western Cape province is set to benefit from a $66.5 million Global AIDS Fund grant, the provincial premier, Marthinus van Schalkwyk, has said. Approval of the grant, which has been allocated to tackle HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria in the province over a period of five years, followed a recent meeting in Geneva, Switzerland, between Van Schalkwyk and the Fund's portfolio director for Africa, Elhadj Sy. In a recent statement the premier said the approval was an important breakthrough for the provincial government, as it was preparing for the rapid rollout of antiretroviral drugs to treat people living with HIV/AIDS. "It is my great pleasure to be able to confirm that a contribution by the Fund of up to US $66.5 million has been approved, in principal, over a period of five years. Once finalised, this will be both the largest and the single most important international contribution to health in our province," van Schalkwyk said. Apart from providing antiretroviral treatment, the funds will also be used to strengthen existing peer education programmes among the youth and improve hospice care.