The World Bank
this week announced it has suspended a $60 million project
to fight HIV and tuberculosis in Ukraine because the
government there has failed to implement the program
and disburse the money.
Anna Honcharyuk,
spokeswoman for the bank's office in Ukraine, said
government officials had so far spent only 2% of the $60
million allocated in January 2004. The money was to be
distributed over the course of four years.
The World Bank
intended the money to be used for medicine, prevention,
and training medical personnel. Since 1987, when Ukraine's
first HIV case was reported, the government has
registered 76,875 people as HIV-positive. However,
some experts maintain the true size of Ukraine's
epidemic is likely much larger, with as many as half a
million people, or 1% of the population, infected.
A health ministry
spokesperson would not comment, saying the minister was
in discussions with the World Bank and that a statement
would be forthcoming. But Honcharyuk said the program
would not be revived in its present form, though the
World Bank is ready to receive government proposals on
how to fight the epidemics.
Political crises,
a lack of political will, and misplaced priorities
might be behind the government's failure to push the
program, Honcharyuk said. (AP)
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