“We can deliver a knockout punch to three of the deadliest killers of our time, and today’s accomplishment makes that possible”.
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The Global Fund, the world’s largest aimed at fighting the three diseases, is credited with saving 20 million lives since it was established in 2002.
It has been credited with helping to save 22 million lives and preventing 300 million infections over the past decade as it pursues a United Nations target of eradicating AIDS by 2030 and the other diseases even sooner. The conference is only the beginning of a three-year replenishment period, and the Global Fund will actively work to gain further contributions in the coming months and years, with strong advocacy by civil society and partners worldwide. “The Global Fund is a great example of what can happen when we collaborate in pursuit of a larger goal”.
Germany pledged €800 million, a 33 percent increase; Japan pledged US$800 million, effectively a 46 percent increase when measured in Japanese yen; Canada pledged $804 million CAD, a 23 percent increase; and the European Commission pledged €470 million, almost a 30 percent increase. “You’ve always been ahead of the curve in realizing we can do more if the worldwide community works together and subsuming your ego into the grand plan”.
Leaders from around the world gathered to show commitment towards ending epidemics of AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria.
“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”.
Hosted by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who stressed youth engagement as a key to success in global health, the conference welcomed significantly increased pledges from several donors.
He said the world is moving toward eliminating the diseases but warned they could return in stronger, more drug-resistant forms if not controlled. This threatens our response to all [AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria],’ warned Ban, telling the conference that this is such a threat to global health that world leaders are meeting to discuss the issue on 21 September in NY during the high-level segment of the 71st session of the UN General Assembly. “The Replenishment may be over, but countries can still make contributions afterward; also it’s critically important that down the road pledges translate into actual contributions and that all commitments are fully met, so our advocacy will continue”.
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Explaining the need for continued research in an interview with AFP, Gates said that “if you keep using the same tools, all the three diseases (develop) resistance mechanisms”. “Lastly, we invite China to be a hero in this Global Fund replenishment cycle by contributing and covering the $100 million gap to bring this replenishment up to $13 billion”. “But I am optimistic that we can get there”.
