Yesterday (19 June 2001) in Geneva, Peter Piot, Executive Director of UNAIDS announced "UNAIDS warmly welcomes the financial contribution of US$ 100 million to the global AIDS and health fund by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. We commend the Gates Foundation for being the first private foundation to commit needed resources in the fight against HIV/AIDS to the global fund. In making this contribution, the fund becomes a still more diverse and international partnership - which is surely the only way we will defeat this epidemic and reverse its terrible consequences. The Foundation has also set out the high priority that they give to stopping transmission and protecting a new generation of young people from becoming infected. We hope that today's announcement by the Gates Foundation will catalyse other donors including other private foundations to channel major contributions to the global fund."

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