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Press Release |
OTHER PRESS RELEASES |
12 February 2007 |
FRIENDS OF THE GLOBAL FUND AFRICA OFFICIALLY LAUNCHED
Kigali – The Board of Friends of the Global Fund Africa (Friends Africa) today convened its first board meeting in Kigali, Rwanda, where Rwandan President Paul Kagame inaugurated the new pan-African advocacy organization.
Friends Africa brings together some of the most committed, credible and influential voices of Africa as an indication of African leaderships’ determination to lead the fight against the three diseases. (The full list of Board members can be found below)
Friends Africa was founded in order to create and sustain visibility and awareness for the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB and Malaria across the African continent, as well as to build political and financial support for the organization. Friends of the Global Fund Africa joins Friends organizations in the U.S., Japan and Europe as nongovernmental advocates on behalf of the Global Fund.
In just five years, the Global Fund has become a leading force in the fight against HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and Malaria in Africa. It has signed more than 200 grant agreements for US$ 3,2 billion in almost every country on the continent.
While the majority of Global Fund investments in Africa support efforts to fight AIDS, the Global Fund has emerged as the predominant funder of TB and malaria programs, making up two-thirds of international commitments for these diseases in 2006 globally.
To date, tens of millions of people have already been reached with life-saving services. Programs in Africa financed by the Global Fund have provided antiretroviral treatment to 575,000 Africans with HIV, treated 442,000 people with effective tuberculosis medications and distributed nearly 11 million insecticide-treated bed nets to protect children and families from malaria.
List of “Friends of the Global Fund Africa” Board members
| BOARD OF DIRECTORS | COUNTRY | DESIGNATION |
| Chris Kirubi | Kenya |
Chairman HACO Industries |
Archbishop Winston Ndugane |
South Africa |
Archbishop of Cape Town |
His Excellency General Yakubu Gowon |
Nigeria |
Former President Nigeria |
Mrs. Kagame |
Rwanda |
First Lady Rwanda |
Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala |
Nigeria |
Former Minister of Finance Nigeria |
Francoise Ndayishimiye |
Burundi |
Founder AIDSETI |
Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede |
Nigeria |
CEO Access bank Nigeria |
Sheila Tlou |
Botswana |
Hon. Minister of Health Botswana |
Angelique Kidjo |
Benin |
Musician/Songwriter |
Jeffery Sachs |
USA |
Director Earth Institute Columbia University NY |
Jonathan Oppenheimer |
South Africa |
M.D. De Beers Consolidated Mines. |
Akudo Anyanwu Ikemba |
Nigeria |
CEO Friends of the Global Fund Africa |
Youssou N’Dour |
Senegal |
Musician/Songwriter |
Donald Kaberuka |
Rwanda |
President African Development Bank |
Mr. Ofori Attah |
Ghana |
Co-founder, Databank Financial Services Ltd. |
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DESIGNATION |
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Josh Ruxin |
Assistant Professor Public Health Columbia University |
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Barbara Bulc |
Director, Global Business Coalition |
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Paul Zeitz |
Global AIDS Alliance |
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Brian Brink |
VP Health Anglo American PLC |
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Yassine Fall |
Senior Economic Advisor UNIFEM |
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Agnes Binagwaho |
Executive Secretary Rwanda National AIDS Commission |
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Herbert Wigwe |
Deputy MD Access Bank |
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Debrewok Zewdie |
Global HIV/AIDS Advisor World Bank |
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The Global Fund is a unique global public/private partnership dedicated to attracting and disbursing additional resources to prevent and treat HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria. This partnership between governments, civil society, the private sector and affected communities represents a new approach to international health financing. The Global Fund works in close collaboration with other bilateral and multilateral organizations to supplement existing efforts dealing with the three diseases.
The Global Fund has approved grants for 450 programs in 136 countries with a total commitment of US$ 7 billion. As of December 2006, 770,000 people have begun antiretroviral (ARV) treatment through Global Fund-supported programs and nearly 18 million insecticide-treated bed nets have been distributed to prevent malaria. In addition, tuberculosis programs have detected and treated 2 million TB cases under DOTS, the internationally-approved TB control strategy.
For broadcast standard video supporting this event, please visit www.thenewsmarket.com/globalfund If you are a first-time user, please take a moment to register. In case you have any questions, please e-mail
Further information, please contact:
| Jon Lidén - The Global Fund, Geneva Office: + 41 22 791 1723 Mobile: + 41 79 244 6006 |
Nicolas Demey - The Global Fund, Geneva |
