OF NOTE THIS WEEK
Global Fund Vice Chair, Dr. Ernest Loevinsohn, and Board Chair, Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, released a statement of confidence on the Global Fund and its operations, particularly the zero-tolerance policy for fraud and corruption. In the wake of the massive negative response to reports of corruption in Global Fund grants, the statement also addresses the series of measures the Global Fund has announced to reinforce its financial safeguards and increase its capacity to prevent and detect fraud. In addition to these measures, many of which are already underway, the Global Fund is also organizing a high-profile panel of international experts "to review its systems and ensure that its approaches to fraud prevention are among the strongest in the world". The Financial Times reported on this appointment of outside officials to review Global Fund auditing procedures, stating that the move "comes amid growing frustration that the Fund's own board of directors has failed to act more effectively in response to long-standing concerns over management, including those highlighted in an external evaluation two years ago". The panel is due to deliver its report to the Global Fund Board in May.
NEWS AND HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE DONORS
- The Global Fund announces measures to enhance financial safeguards and strengthen fraud prevention
- The World Bank Info Shop is hosting a panel presentation on Breaking the Silence: HIV/AIDS Facts & Priorities in the Middle East & North Africa on Tuesday February 15th
- UNAIDS supports the Global Fund in efforts to ensure countries reach their universal access goals towards HIV prevention, treatment, care and support
OTHER NEWS AND HIGHLIGHTS
- Prevention of mother-to-child transmission: Update on a PEPFAR priority on Capitol Hill (Science Speaks
- Maternal HIV Infection and Antibody Responses Against Vaccine-Preventable Diseases in Uninfected Infants (The Journal of the American Medical Association)
- Supporting the Global Fund to fight fraud (The Lancet)
- Vatican to host AIDS prevention, care conference (Associated Press)
- HIV-like infection banished from mice (New Scientist)
- Tanzania: USAID joins forces to combat HIV/AIDS in Tanzania (Afrique en ligne)
- Increased Demand for HIV and Malaria Drugs in Uganda (UGPulse)
- Mother-Baby Pack launched to help prevent HIV transmission in Zambia (UNICEF)
RECENT CGD HEALTH POLICY BLOGS
- Haitian Death Toll Reveals Vulnerability of Poor Countries to Natural Disasters By Mead Over
- What Is a Scientific Advisory Board and Why Does PEPFAR Now Have One? By Mead Over
- AIDS "Truths" Can Also Wear Off By Mead Over
HIV/AIDS MONITOR RECOMMENDATIONS AND POLICY IMPACT
- The HIV/AIDS Monitor has been tracking the policy changes among PEPFAR, the Global Fund and the World Bank MAP related to the recommendations that have come out of our research. Explore these changes using our interactive flash tool.