US president Barack Obama is expected to declare that this is "the beginning of the end" of AIDS on the occasion of the world's health day today as global efforts in combating has resulted in falling number of new infections.

Obama will be joined by Bill Clinton, who will participate in the event by phone and George W Bush, who will speak from the African nation of Tanzania alongside the country's President, Jakaya Kikwete.

Even as there is optimism and praise for the efforts to combat AIDS, there are huge concerns over budget cuts in funding for fighting AIDS due to the global economic slowdown. The Global Fund has announced its decision to call off the latest rund of funding to Fight Aids, TB and Malaria.

Several countries around the world are cutting their aid budgets amid global financial crisis. The cancellation of the 11th annual round of funding means that the new applications will not be accepted by the year 2014. The lack of funding will also result in a shortfall in drugs in various countries that are severely affected by the epidemic.

The Global Fund, which is a joint initiative between the public and private enterprises, is the single largest donor for HIV funding in the world. It provides more than 70 per cent of the money for antiretroviral drugs in developing nations.