Global Disease Fund Seeks to Recover From Corruption
January 24, 2011 | Read Time: 1 minute
An internal investigation of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria found that much of money supplied to by governments and philanthropists to combat the diseases in the developing world has been lost to corruption, the Associated Press says.
The inquiry by the fund’s newly strengthened inspector general’s office found millions of dollars unaccounted for, misspent, or misappropriated through forged documents or improper bookkeeping in Mali, Mauritania, Zambia, and other nations. Drugs donated to the organization often end up on the black market.
Donors worldwide have pledged $21.7-billion to the Global Fund, set up in 2002 to more quickly get money to health programs in needy countries and has received backing from Bill Gates, Bono, and other prominent philanthropists.
Officials at the global fund said they are cutting off grants to nations where widespread corruption is uncovered and demanding paybacks in the millions of dollars.
