London, 8 February 2019: Today, the campaign to secure sustained funding to fight the world’s biggest global health threats began in Delhi. The Indian Government hosted government officials, representatives of civil society, multilateral agencies and affected communities to launch the investment case for the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB and Malaria, calling for a commitment of at least US $14 billion. Since its creation, the Global Fund has helped save the lives of over 27 million people and continues to provide the majority of international financing to tackle the three epidemics.

Representatives discussed how the global community can accelerate progress and meet the Global Goal of ending the three diseases by 2030 through increased investment, innovation and a sharper focus on results. At current rates of progress, none of those targets will be achieved. For example in 2017 alone there were 10 million new cases of TB and 1.6 million people died from the disease.

RESULTS UK’s Executive Director, Aaron Oxley, said: “The replenishment is a test of each country’s resolve to deliver on the commitments made at the UN High-Level Meeting on TB in 2018.  All UN Member States committed to diagnose and treat 40 million people with TB globally by 2022. Now they must put their money where their mouth is.”

He added: “We would like to stress that the ‘at least’ part of the ‘at least US $14 billion’ target is critical. Technical experts have estimated that even if US $14 billion is pledged, along with other external financing commitments and a 48% increase in high-burden countries’ own spending over the same period, there will be global shortfall of US $17.8 billion over the period. For every $100m we raise above the $14 billion target to fill that funding gap, we will save well over 100,000 lives and generate $1.8 billion in economic returns through health gains.”

Peter Sands, Executive Director of the Global Fund, welcomed India’s support for the 6th replenishment. Home to 27% of all TB cases in 2017, India has demonstrated commitment to meaningfully tackle the disease through both political commitment and practice, with Prime Minister Modi pledging to end TB in India 5 years ahead of the SDG target and dramatically increasing domestic budgets last year. Thanks to the Global Fund’s technical expertise and efficiency, targeted interventions in Asia have meanwhile helped diagnose and treat an additional 850,000 cases since 2015, so it’s clear that with sustained support progress can be made.

The Global Fund provides a life line for the poorest, most vulnerable and marginalised people in the world. Adequate replenishment of the fund is at the heart of leaving no one behind in the era of sustainable development. In the words of South African Health Minister Dr. Aaron Motsoaledi: ‘If people ask if we can afford to treat tuberculosis, we must ask them “can we afford not to?”‘

ENDS.

RESULTS is a movement of passionate, committed, everyday people. Together we use our voices to influence political decisions that will bring an end to extreme poverty.

If you have any questions or if you would like to arrange an interview with Aaron Oxley, please contact Rachael Hore at [email protected] or on +44 20 77933970.

The Global Fund and the investment case

  • Since the Global Fund to fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria was set up in 2002, it has helped save the the lives of 27 million people.
  • Global Fund supported programmes  have been responsible for the treatment of 5 million people with TB, provided 17.5 million people with access to antiretrovirals, and treated 108 million cases of Malaria.
  • TB is the world’s deadliest infectious disease and the only major drug-resistant infection spread through the air. For the fourth year in a row, TB remains the world’s single largest infectious killer, with 1.6 million deaths in 2017. TB kills more people each year than HIV and malaria combined. In 2017, 940,000 people died of AIDS-related causes, which included 300,000 TB deaths among HIV-positive people, and malaria killed 445,000 people.
  • The investment case is asking for  at least US$ 14 billion, which is critically to maintain current lifesaving programming, and ensure people currently supported will not be left without treatment or protection.
  • The Global Fund Advocates Network estimates that in order to successfully end HIV, TB and malaria by 2030, the next replenishment would need to raise between  US$ 16.8 and US$ 18 billion for the Global Fund. The full report can be found here.