27 November 2003

A fund to address the unprecedented challenge that HIV/AIDS is posing to the work of the Red Cross and Red Crescent has been launched today by the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies and represents another step forward in the organization’s efforts to support its own people living with AIDS.

The Masambo Fund will provide access to anti-retroviral therapy to Red Cross and Red Crescent staff and volunteers, many of whom are working on the HIV/AIDS frontline, but are dying through lack of treatment.

"We estimate that there must be at least 200,000 people in our organization who are living with HIV/AIDS. This poses an enormous challenge - not only to our ability to carry out our humanitarian mandate, but also to the survival of our organization," said Razia Essack-Kauaria, governing board member of the International Federation and secretary general of the Namibian Red Cross.

"This fund is an emergency measure for us until global efforts to increase access to treatment are truly up and running. We simply cannot afford to lose any more of our people," she added.

The fund is named after a long-serving staff member of the Zimbabwe Red Cross’ home-based care programme which provides support to families living with HIV/AIDS. Masambo died in late 2001 but it was her story, presented to the International Federation’s General Assembly shortly afterwards, that led to the decision to create such a fund.

Money for the Masambo Fund will be raised through voluntary annual contributions by each Red Cross and Red Crescent society, the International Federation’s Secretariat staff and other donations. It is hoped that with a minimum of contributions, at least 300 people will be helped to get onto treatment initially. Each person will be guaranteed five years of drug supplies with priority given to people in countries where there is no other funding option.

"We hope that the creation of the Masambo Fund will encourage other organizations and companies to care for their own staff who have AIDS," said Markku Niskala, secretary general of the International Federation. "The Red Cross Red Crescent is also making its own contribution to the World Health Organization’s (WHO) efforts to get three million people on anti-retroviral treatment by 2005 through treatment programmes in six African countries initially. Our volunteers are essential to ensuring treatment reaches the most vulnerable communities."

The Federation, the national Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies and the International Committee of the Red Cross together constitute the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement. For further information on Federation activities, please see our web site: www.ifrc.org