Tshwane — The Global Fund has welcomed the recommitment of G8 nations to assist in funding universal access to HIV and Aids treatment.

The G8, who met last week in the German resort town Heiligendamm, pledged US$60 billion to uphold an earlier pledge to boost its development aid.

"The endorsement by G8 leaders of $6 billion to $8 billion per year for the Global Fund is a three-fold increase from the current level as part of their recommitment to universal access to treatment," said the fund's Executive Director Michel Kazatchkine Friday.

He said this was good news, adding that Aids must be a top priority for the G8 every year - in commitments and action.

In a statement released in advance of the summit, the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV and Aids (UNAIDS) had warned that in 2006, resources available for Aids fell "dramatically short of the estimated needs by $6 billion."

It also cautioned that the 11 million people projected to need antiretroviral treatment by 2010 "may be underestimated by up to 50 percent."

As such, UNAIDS urged the leaders from Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the Russian Federation, the United Kingdom and the United States to translate their previous commitments on Aids.

This included their 2005 pledge to provide $60 billion to fight HIV and other illnesses in Africa into tangible action.

Set up in 2002 on the initiative of former UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan, the Global Fund is a public-private partnership that has committed $7.6 billion so far to fight Aids, tuberculosis and malaria in 136 countries.

The three diseases kill more than 6 million people a year, and that number is growing.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel, hosting G8 leaders said they were aware of their responsibilities and would fulfil their obligations.

Among the pledges, the G8 leaders made three "significant dollar commitments" to support action on mother-to-child, paediatric treatments, maternal and child health totalling US$4.8 billion.

They agreed to allow local production of drugs such as antiretroviral for HIV and Aids patients to ensure cheaper prices for medication.

They also agreed to cut the prevalence of malaria in 30 African countries, which is responsible for 80 percent of deaths, cutting deaths in half.