VIENTIANE, Dec. 13 (Xinhua) -- Participants from Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, Myanmar and Thailand were reunited recently in Lao capital Vientiane to discuss the challenges and opportunities of the new funding cycle of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria in the Greater Mekong Region.
The four sessions of the regional conference emphasized innovative approaches to achieve sustainability of the intervention in Global Fund grants and discussion on technical assistance and expertize possibilities for beneficiary countries, local daily Vientiane Times reported on Friday.
Participants presented projects funded by the Five Percent Initiative in the region, and the whole session gave an overview of the epidemiological trends of the three diseases in the region.
Last October, France hosted the sixth replenishment conference of the Global Fund against HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria.
The target of 14 billion U.S. dollars to save 16 million lives has been achieved, and the discussions are now turning to how to make sure the funds help achieve the elimination of the three diseases by 2030 as set out in the sustainable development goals, said the report.
Since 2012, around 5 million euros (about 5.59 million U.S. dollars) have been committed to Laos through the Five Percent Initiative, with a focus on research and capacity building for civil society organizations.
