The Three-Disease (3D) Fund, which substituted the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria (GFATM), will start operation in Myanmar in July, said a report of Khit Myanmar Weekly on Friday.

The substitution followed the withdrawal of the aid of GFATM in August 2005.

Similar to GFATM, the 3D Fund, which has so far raised up to 100 million U.S. dollars, will assist Myanmar in the control of three diseases, namely, AIDs, Tuberculosis, and Malaria, in the next five years, said the report.

The 3D Fund was set up with the donation of six countries and organizations -- the European Commission, Britain's Department for International Development, Australia's AusAID, Sweden's Sida, the Netherlands and Norway.

Myanmar government's restriction over the GFATM performance in the country was blamed for the GFATM's termination. The suspension of the GFATM aid was regarded as weakening the country's international source for fighting the three diseases.

Meanwhile, the Country Coordinating Mechanism (CCM) on controlling AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria, has deplored the negative impact the pull-out would have on people in need. The CCM was chaired by the Myanmar Ministry of Health and is comprised of resident representatives of the World Health Organization, UN Children's Fund, Population Service International, World Vision International and Myanmar Medical Association.

Noting that investment by international community in humanitarian programs in Myanmar is low, the CCM urged the GFATM to reconsider its decision for the termination in the light of its obligations to people everywhere who are suffering from HIV-AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria.

The GFATM, an independent private foundation to assist nations in control of AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria, was formed in 2001- 2002 under the resolutions of G8 Summit, and comprised the United States, the United Kingdom, Italy, France, Russia, Japan, Canada and Germany.

Earlier in 2005, the GFATM allocated 35 million dollars for its operations in Myanmar in 2005-2006 to fight the three diseases. Of the aid, 19 million was for the campaign against AIDS, 7 million for tuberculosis and 9 million for malaria, according to Myanmar official media.

Myanmar designated AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria as three major communicable diseases with which the country has been fighting.

Source: Xinhua