2000 Ukrainian patients to receive treatment for HIV/AIDS

The International HIV AIDS Alliance and IDA ARV Procurement Services B.V. recently joined hands to realise a Global Fund delivery of antiretrovirals for 2000 patients within a few months time after the recent re-launch of the grant. A contract, worth 3,6 million dollars, was signed between the two parties, for the delivery of multi-source antiretrovirals in 2004.

Beginning 2004 the Global Fund requested the HIV AIDS Alliance, to take over implementation of the programs for several months. The Ukraine lagged substantially behind its targets to prevent the spread of HIV and provide treatment to people living with the virus, so HIV AIDS Alliance was called for help. This gives the Ukraine the opportunity to address concerns of slow implementation, management and governance issues.

The main goals after the hand over to the HIV AIDS Alliance were to ensure the epidemic not spreading further and those who need treatment receiving treatment. The International HIV/AIDS Alliance, a sub-recipient in the previous grant structure, is now the sole principal recipient administering funds to implementers of the program’s four components: care and support of people living with HIV/AIDS, a general risk reduction campaign, targeted treatment and prevention programs for high-risk populations, and monitoring and evaluation. The Government of the Ukraine, which chairs the Country Coordinating Mechanism and through the Ministry of Health has pledged its support and assistance to this process and to the Alliance and IDA ARV B.V.

The Global Fund has approved three grants worth a total of $25 million over two years to Ukraine. Among the programs’ targets is the expansion of the number of people receiving AIDS treatment from less than 60 to 4,000 within two years. The first 2000 patients will soon benefit from the joint efforts of IDA ARV B.V. and the HIV AIDS Alliance.

Global Fund
The Global Fund is a unique global public-private partnership dedicated to attracting and disbursing additional resources to prevent and treat AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria. This partnership between governments, civil society, the private sector and affected communities represents a new approach to international health financing. The Fund works in close collaboration with other bilateral and multilateral organizations to supplement existing efforts dealing with the three diseases. The Global Fund has so far committed $2.1 billion to 225 programs in 121 countries.

HIV AIDS Alliance
The International HIV/AIDS Alliance (the Alliance) is an international development non-governmental organisation which was set up in 1993 by a consortium of international donors. The Alliance was established to respond to the need for a specialist, professional intermediary organisation which would work in effective partnership with non-governmental and community-based organisations in developing countries, as well as with national governments, private and public donors and the UN system. The Alliance's mission is to support communities in developing countries to play a full and effective role in the global response to AIDS.

IDA ARV Procurement Services B.V.
Since its start in 1972 International Dispensary Association (IDA) Foundation supplies essential medicines and medical supplies to more than one hundred low and middle income countries. The Foundation's principal aim is to facilitate the access to quality assured medicines at the lowest possible price in developing countries and to areas in distress. In 2003 IDA Foundation decided to set up a separate 100% daughter organization for the procurement of ARV medicines plus testing and monitoring equipment. The not-for-profit organisation IDA ARV Procurement Services B.V. (IDA ARV B.V.) was established January 1st 2004 and focuses on facilitating and accelerating access to quality assured and controlled antiretroviral medicines, HIV tests and diagnostic requirements at the lowest possible price. IDA ARV B.V. supplies both small and large scale projects such as the Global Fund Ukraine program with branded as well as multi-source versions of the major antiretroviral medicines.

The International HIV AIDS Alliance Contact details:
Queensberry House
104–106 Queens Road
Brighton
BN1 3XF
United Kingdom
Telephone: +44 1273 718 900
Fax: +44 1273 718 901
Email: [email protected]

IDA ARV Procurement Services B.V. Contact details
P.O. Box 37348
1030 AH Amsterdam
The Netherlands
Phone: +31 20 4037178
Fax: +31 20 4037179
Email: [email protected]