No Global Fund for Venezuela

Also available in: Español

Geneva, November 13. In preparation for the meeting of the Global Fund’s Governing Board, a round table was held to debate on Venezuela. As for the Global Fund, the only thing that was made clear is that there will be no resources for this crisis.

By: Javier Hourcade Bellocq

This event was held with the participation of the Latin America and the Caribbean Delegation, ICASO, PAHO and UNAIDS, the chairmanship of the Board and the executive management of the Global Fund aiming to inform the Board about the situation in Venezuela, since the issue was last discussed 6 months ago in Kigali, Rwanda (read the article here).

PAHO presented alarming data on the Venezuelan health situation.

The Pan-American Health Organization (PAHO) pointed out that there are currently around 71000 people with HIV in the country, estimating that only 59% of them could be on antiretroviral treatment. Only 8500 of them may have achieved viral suppression, which accounts for 12% of people living with HIV, in a country that perhaps bears the infamous record of having the lowest number of people who enjoy the benefits of the treatment. The low viral suppression only means that more people with HIV will get unwell; moreover, it is highly likely that resistant strains of the virus are already spreading around.

In the last four years, the number of people diagnosed HIV positive has doubled. A table was also shared with the existing treatment inventories, which will be completed in the coming months. Perhaps the only positive thing to share is the conclusion about the efficiency that the Strategic Fund has shown with the purchase and donation of medicines and supplies to Venezuela.

As a well-known saying goes: “In times of war, the truth is the first thing to suffer.” Today we do not know for certain what is happening in Venezuela. The data shared by PAHO has been a great advance, but reality, in the literal sense, is yet unknown. And probably it will be much worse by the time we get to know it.

Mary Ann Torres, from ICASO, presented a report on the triple threat in Venezuela.

“The devastation we face is perpetuated, in part, by the arbitrary rules and regulations that define what takes to become eligible for global health care.” (Alberto Nieves, Venezuelan person living with HIV).

Mary Ann Torres, Executive Director of ICASO, reminded us that, by the end of 2017, inflation will probably be at around 1600%, with the most basic products of the basic family provisions representing a high percentage of the minimum wage. A 76% of the medicines included in the World Health Organization’s list of essential medicines have disappeared from the country; infant mortality has skyrocketed by 30%, and measles and diphtheria epidemics have resurfaced, with many vaccines missing in the last 18 months. More information is available in the report The Triple Threat, which warns about the resurgence of epidemics, and a broken health system in a context of global indifference.

Recommendations:

Some of the recommendations resulting from the meeting were:

– Consider Global Fund assistance for specific measures for malaria, HIV and tuberculosis;

– Increase the availability of medicines, diagnostic supplies and other supplies for malaria, HIV and tuberculosis through PAHO Strategic Fund;

– Support the Multi-Country Initiative for the Prevention and Containment of Artemisinin Resistance and the Elimination of Malaria in the Guyana Shield;

– Support the Regional Initiative for the Elimination of Malaria in the Amazon Basin;

– Identify and address critical gaps of the National Health Plan of Venezuela;

The Global Fund will not put resources in Venezuela by the time being.

– Evaluate and monitor the situation of communicable diseases and immunizations;

– Explore the availability of partners interested in supporting the provision of assistance to the Health System;

– Continuous provision of technical cooperation (headquarters, sub-regional, country office);

– Identification of private antiretroviral donors and the development of a sustainable canalization system;

– Develop a strategy to increase advocacy support for people with HIV and raise awareness on the situation among key international actors.

The Global Fund is not currently allocating resources for Venezuela and all the roads and strategies for such purpose have been exhausted; however, it is important to use this space, that brings together all key actors, to mobilize financial resources for the purchase of medicines through PAHO Strategic Fund and provide some support to Civil Society, as Japan and the European Community have done.

The block of implementing countries of the Board has fixed its position on the matter:

Members of the Global Fund partnership, especially donor constituents, to urgently follow the example set by Japan and contribute funds through the existing procurement mechanisms (that is, PAHO Strategic Fund). By the end of 2017, all health products for all HIV, tuberculosis and malaria will be facing stock-outs;
The international community, in order to channel resources to the Venezuelan civil society and allow them to continue monitoring the situation and further provide capacity for community responses through the distribution of medicines and basic products;
The governments hosting the diaspora of Venezuelan people living with HIV seeking treatment, for humanitarian reasons, to provide them with the necessary and quality services and treatment, and stop deporting them, since this inevitably amounts to a death sentence for these communities; and
The Global Fund, to further explore concrete mechanisms to support this unprecedented health crisis, and develop a more proactive and effective approach to countries in crisis.

Therefore, the Implementation Panel of the Global Fund Board resorts:

To the members of the Global Fund alliance; especially donor constituents, to urgently follow the example set by Japan and contribute funds through the existing procurement mechanisms (that is, PAHO Strategic Fund). By the end of 2017, all health products for all HIV, tuberculosis and malaria will be facing stock-outs;
To the international community, in order to channel resources to the Venezuelan civil society and allow them to continue monitoring the situation and further provide capacity for community responses through the distribution of medicines and basic products;
To the governments hosting the diaspora of Venezuelan people living with HIV seeking treatment, for humanitarian reasons, to provide them with the necessary and quality services and treatment, and stop deporting them, since this inevitably amounts to a death sentence for these communities; and
To the Global Fund, to further explore concrete mechanisms to support this unprecedented health crisis, as well as for developing a more proactive and effective approach for countries undergoing crisis.

Little ado about nothing

The Global Fund has joined other organizations that have turned their backs on the Venezuelan crisis and who are responsible for their government and management. Someday they will have to be accountable for their decisions, and for the high cost in health and the number of lives that indifference, poor politics and short-sightedness will cost.

The Global Fund’s priorities, with regards to where it directs its energies in order to save lives, are definitely clear, and do not include the Latin American region, let alone countries in emergency situations.

The Venezuelan crisis is self-inflicted: It is the work of humans, of a government and a regime with no affinity with democracy, with the health of its people and their human rights, which will be accountable and, hopefully, brought to court for genocide. As for the rest, their actions or omissions will weight in their consciences. It was not expected to be very different, and those of us who are working with other colleagues in Venezuela, left Geneva with renewed energies to continue supporting our brothers and sisters in this country – perhaps feeling a little bit lonelier now.

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