Aidsfonds, Global Health Advocates and The ONE Campaign welcome the contribution by the European Commission to pledge €550 million to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB and Malaria.
Brussels, 24 August 2019
By stepping up its support to the Global Fund, the EU has heeded the call by communities to Get Back on Track to End the Epidemics. With this pledge, the EU also demonstrates its commitment to accelerate progress toward SDG3 on achieving health for all.
The 6th replenishment of the Global Fund will culminate on 10 October 2019 in Lyon. Under the patronage of French President Emmanuel Macron, the Global Fund seeks to raise at least USD 14 billion to help save 16 million lives, avert 234 million infections and help the world get back on track to end AIDS, TB and Malaria.
Mark Vermeulen, Director of Aidsfonds on the news, “We are delighted that the European Commission has made such a bold early pledge, which represents an increase of nearly 16% compared to current commitments. Leadership is instrumental in ending the three diseases by 2030, and this pledge sends a loud and clear message to other European donors who have yet to pledge.”
Patrick Bertrand, Director of Global Health Advocates, added, “With this pledge, the Global Fund will be able to scale up its critical support to reducing gender- and human rights-related barriers to health services, strengthen community and health systems and leverage domestic resources. However, there is still a way to go to fully close the financing gap in ending the three diseases, which can be achieved only if others follow the example of the EC.”
Friederike Röder, EU and France Director at ONE, said: “Today, about 1,000 young women will be infected with HIV but thanks to the EU’s support for the Global Fund’s lifesaving work, we are one step closer to reaching the Global Fund replenishment target and put an end to pandemics like HIV, TB or malaria. This year could be a turning point in the fight against AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria but this will only possible if all donors get together to go the extra mile ahead of the Global Fund’s replenishment conference in Lyon. We need to move fast to put an end to the diseases for good. The EU’s commitment sends a clear message to other donors in Biarritz to step up the fight now.”
Advocates estimate that up to USD 18 billion should be channelled through the Fund in order to refuel the momentum to end the 3 epidemics by 2030.
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