The Global Fund is Key to Fighting AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria

Earlier this week, the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (the Global Fund) held its Replenishment Meeting to secure funding for the next three years. Don’t know much about the Global Fund? Well it’s the biggest funder of malaria prevention and treatment programs in the world. The Global Fund is an innovative global public-private partnership which raises and disburses funds to prevent and treat HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria. Since its formation in 2002, the Global Fund has approved more than $19.5 billion in spending to combat these three diseases. About 35% of the Global Fund’s grants are used to build and strengthen health systems around the world.

Check out this video message from Mandy Moore about the importance of the Global Fund worldwide and specifically in the Central African Republic.

Yesterday new commitments were made to the Global Fund from countries, such as the U.S. and African nations, and the private sector. These new commitments will enable existing programs to be funded and help countries scale up new programs, ensuring progress toward the UN’s Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) by 2015. As the UN Foundation’s President, Timothy E. Wirth, said:

In less than a decade nearly six million lives have been saved by Global Fund programs. If we can continue scaling up successful programs and interventions by 2015, we can dramatically reduce deaths from AIDS, end malaria deaths, and achieve significant declines in TB mortality. Investing in the Global Fund is an investment towards improving the lives of millions, and ensuring global stability and progress.

Read President Timothy E. Wirth’s full statement regarding the new commitments made to the Global Fund.

Finally, to see the Global Fund’s impact firsthand, watch “A New Picture of Health” -- a unique documentary about the work of the Global Fund and its ongoing impact in saving millions of lives across the developing world. Narrated by Dr. Jane Goodall, DBE, founder of the Jane Goodall Institute and UN Messenger of Peace, the film includes personal stories from community health workers, patients, and community leaders to show the impact of the Global Fund’s programs in Ethiopia, Rwanda and Indonesia.