Global ARV needs far short of targets - Feachem

The world's need for antiretroviral drug (ARV) access is "far from met" due to funding shortfalls, Richard Feachem, executive director of the Global Fund, has said following the release of a UNAIDS epidemic update earlier this week. Stressing that the Global Fund to fight HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria was still in need of US $3.3 billion to meet its 2006 and 2007 goals, Feachem said the UNAIDS report was an affirmation that global investments and commitment could have an impact on the devastation of the pandemic. "We must now accelerate the scale-up of prevention, testing and treatment to keep pace with the growing epidemic," Feachem said in a statement. The Global Fund has received just $3.8 billion of the $7.1 billion needed to implement its programmes over the next two years.