(The Philadelphia Inquirer/Associated Press) GENEVA - The United Nations' attempt to put 3 million HIV-infected people around the world on antiretroviral drugs by last year fell far short of its goal, but it saved hundreds of thousands of lives nonetheless, the U.N. health agency said Tuesday.

The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria may run short of money to help poor countries care for the sick, the Fund's executive director said in an interview Thursday. Many countries, expecting funding from the agency, are putting AIDS patients on antiretroviral therapy although financing from the Fund is not secure, Richard Feachem said.   (AlertNet.org/Reuters)

 www.globalaidsalliance.org

Washington, DC, March 16, 2006—Today, after hearing from numerous constituents across the US, the US Senate passed an amendment to add 566 million to the total Foreign Operations Budget. The amendment stated the added funding should be used to increase the US contribution to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria.