She said this is the biggest budget so far and requires member states to start implementing programmes.
She said that 2,400 delegations from WHO's 193 member countries attended the meeting and adopted 18 resolutions of which Botswana contributed to 14.
Members agreed on a resolution to better prepare countries on the global public health threat of influenza pandemic H5N1. It requests WHO to establish an international stockpile of vaccines for H5N1 or other influenza viruses of pandemic potential. Tlou said other resolutions were of implementing long-term tuberculosis (TB) prevention and control. She noted that WHO would strengthen its support to countries mostly affected by multi-drug resistant and Extensively Drug-Resistant (XDR) TB while also supporting, in terms of personnel and research, for those affected by a combination of HIV and TB.
Deputy permanent secretary (health services) Dr Loeto Mazhani noted that there is still no evidence of patients with XDR TB in Botswana. He however said that they were still awaiting results of a survey for tests they had sent to South Africa. "We have never had to isolate anyone," he said.
Other resolutions passed were that of malaria and variola virus, which causes smallpox. Member nations also adopted a resolution on strengthening the health information systems to boost WHO's work on health statistics in general and integrating gender analysis such as disaggregating of data based on sex in all publications and reports.
Public health director Matsae Balosang added that oral disease, which is said to be growing rapidly worldwide, was on the agenda for the first time because it had been identified as a significant health problem.
Minister Tlou said that at the Global Fund meeting in April they argued against eligibility of middle-income countries such as Botswana and South Africa for funding. She called for the revision of the funding criteria on the basis of the disease burden. These countries will now benefit, with more than 10 percent of the populations having been affected by the spread of HIV epidemic.
She added that countries should not be accused of squandering funds.
Global Fund was created to increase resources available to fight three of the world's devastating diseases - AIDS, TB and malaria.
