Prime Minister Justin Trudeau leaves the stage after making the opening remarks at the official start of the Global Fund conference Friday, September 16, 2016 in Montreal.
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Gates told The Associated Press that $12.9 billion has been raised.
The second-largest donor, Britain, pledged $1.4 billion, followed by France ($1.2 billion), Germany ($900 million), Japan ($800 million) and Canada ($600 million). “Let us work together to make this world healthier and better”. When we work together, we can truly transform the world.
Trudeau made the announcement Saturday at a donors’ meeting as Bill Gates, Bono and others gathered in Montreal to determine how to replenish the major global health fund that combats AIDS and two of the world’s other leading killers in low-income countries.
“This is a part of Qatar’s duties, which represents more of supporting human and development programs and it has provided support to more than 100 countries, and recently Qatar has renewed its commitment by providing $10m the next ten years to serve the humanitarian goals and development”, she said. “Today’s replenishment demonstrates what’s possible when Canada takes a leadership role in development and helps make the world more equitable and secure for all”.
“But the thing about tipping points is they can go in either direction, and these next three years will be absolutely essential to maintain the trajectory to get to the end of TB and malaria and the control of HIV”, he said.
Morley added that drugs are less expensive and more available than they used to be 15 years ago.
The event is created to show Canadian leadership on the worldwide stage ahead of what is expected to be Trudeau’s first address to the United Nations General Assembly next week.
“Canada’s leadership around global health aims to reach the poorest and most vulnerable, especially women and girls”, Canada’s minister of worldwide development and Francophonie, Marie-Claude Bibeau, said ahead of the conference.
“We look forward to working with ACT NOW in the crucial fight to achieve an AIDS-free generation in America”, said HRC President Chad Griffin.
This message to delegates was echoed by Michaelle Jean, head of La Francophonie, who pleaded that “women and girls not be left behind”. “Our societies can not succeed without the full participation and empowerment of women and girls”. Evidence shows that keeping girls in school not only raises a girl’s standard of living and empowers her to be more independent, it also improves prevention from getting HIV.
“Poverty is sexist. HIV is sexist”. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has been personally engaged with planning the conference – part of a broader push to elevate Canada’s leadership role in global development.
It’s a lot of money – and that’s why the Global Fund should work even harder to quantify its impact, says Amanda Glassman, director of global health policy at the Center for Global Development, a think tank.
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At this summer’s world AIDS conference in South Africa, the HIV infection rate among Saskatchewan’s indigenous population drew worldwide attention because it was comparable to many developing countries.
