AIDS funding still low - UNAIDS

UNAIDS on Thursday said despite substantial increases, HIV/AIDS funding was only half of what would be needed annually by 2005. In its latest report on HIV/AIDS funding, UNAIDS estimated that spending in low and middle-income countries in 2003 could amount to just under US $5 billion, about half of what will probably be required annually by 2005. "Even with recent increases in AIDS spending, the mismatch between need and funding continues to be one of the biggest obstacles in the struggle to control the epidemic," UNAIDS executive director, Peter Piot, said in a statement. UNAIDS said the recently announced US and European Union (EU) plans to step up global HIV/AIDS funding could bring an additional US $1.2 billion annual spending by 2005, if the plans were realised. "Although we are half way there in closing the AIDS funding gap, there is still half way to go," Piot added.