Global Policy Forum

By D'Arcy Doran

Declaring the battle against AIDS his "personal priority," UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan on Thursday proposed a global super-fund to halt and reverse the disease, which kills 2.8 million people a year.

Annan brought his strategy to combat AIDS and other infectious diseases to a special African summit in Nigeria intended to produce the strongest political message yet on the disease ravaging the continent. His plan calls for financing from rich countries and private contributors but also demands that poor nations give priority in their budgets to a comprehensive health system.

"We need money. The war on AIDS will not be won without a war chest, of a size far beyond what is available so far," he said in his prepared text. The estimated cost for comprehensive health care would be $7-10 billion annually, compared to the $1 billion currently spent in developing countries, Annan said.

Annan is the keynote speaker at the AIDS summit in the Nigerian capital where leaders will sign a pledge calling on their countries to boost spending on health care as well as importing and producing their own generic AIDS drugs.

Delegates worked late into the night on Wednesday, fine-tuning a political declaration that will include the pledge of unprecedented budgetary allocation to AIDS in Africa. But conference sources said debate on the issue had become more intense than expected and that the percentage of the budget pledged by African governments for the fight against AIDS looked certain to be scaled down.

RAVAGED CONTINENT

Africa is hardest hit by the disease, home of more than 70 percent of the world's 36 million people infected by HIV, the virus that causes AIDS. A generation of potentially productive young adults may be decimated, making AIDS Africa's biggest development challenge, Annan said. "And that is why I have made the battle against it my personal priority," he said.

Coordinating the various donors has taken on new urgency as wealthy countries have indicated a willingness to provide funds. But they are concerned about lack of coordination within the UN system, diplomats said.

Annan also urged an end to turf battles within and outside the UN system. "Our success will not be measured by resolutions passed, appointments made, or even funds raised. It will be measured in the lives of succeeding generations," he said.

Annan called on African leaders to break the "wall of silence" that still surrounds the issue and stop the "abuse" and "discrimination" against those infected: "The epidemic can be stopped, if people are not afraid to talk about it."

He recently met major drug companies who agreed to cut prices of antiretroviral treatments for the least developed countries. He encouraged developing countries to produce and import generic drugs under license "within the terms of international trade agreements." Much of the debate has shifted to Brazil, considered the world model for providing poor people with AIDS treatments. The country has been accused by pharmaceutical companies of violating trade rules in its production and import of the drugs.

Specifically, Annan outlined priority areas for his global campaign against AIDS, topped by education and prevention campaigns, especially among young people. Half the infected population is under 25. He also advocated voluntary counseling, testing and use of condoms as well.

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