Health ministry refutes idle AIDS money claims
THE National HIV/STI Control Programme has refuted claims that money issued by the World Bank to help the fight against HIV/AIDS was sitting idle.
In a statement on Tuesday, the health ministry said the funds issued for the programme have all been put to full use.
“The programme wishes to inform that it has expended US$8.8 million (84%) of the US$10.6 million received from the World Bank to support HIV/AIDS programmes,” the ministry said.
“The remainder of US$1.7 is scheduled to be disbursed by December 2007 for activities already under way,” it added.
The release also said that the National HIV/STI Control Programme was reviewed by the World Bank earlier this year regarding its loan performance and was given a positive evaluation.
“In April of this year, the Jamaican programme was reviewed and commended in writing by the World Bank for its loan performance. The National Programme is currently working with the World bank for additional bank financial support,” the release stated.
