The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria has approved, “in principle,” a $47 million grant to reduce the spread of HIV among gay and other men who have sex with men in seven south Asian countries, IANS/Thaindian.com reports. According to a statement IANS/Thaindian.com reports was released by the Global Fund, in New Delhi, “This [project] marks the first time, the Global Fund will support a major regional project in Asia specifically addressing men who have sex with men (MSM), transgenders and HIV.” 

Shivananda Khan, of Naz Foundation International (NFI), one of the NGOs that will be involved in the program said, “The grant provides South Asia with a promising platform which must continue to be strengthened by all concerned – governments, international development partners and community partners alike.”

According to IANS/Thaindia, NFI along with Population Services International, the United Nations Development Program’s regional centre in Colombo and the South Asian MSM and AIDS Network (SAMAN), “had approached the Global Fund on this matter” (11/25).

According to Xinhua, the project will target the countries of Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. “Millions of gay and transgender people in South Asia suffer from discrimination in many aspects of their day to day lives. This makes them more vulnerable to HIV and undermines their capacity to contribute fully to their communities and societies,” said Jeffrey O’Malley, Global Director of UNDP’s HIV Group. “This grant reflects the commitment of the international community to support the health and human rights of all people, even the most marginalized,” he added (11/25).