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Press Release |
OTHER PRESS RELEASES |
30 May 2007 |
The Global Fund Welcomes Multi-Year Contribution from European
Commission Ahead of G8 Meeting
Brussels - The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria today welcomed the announcement by European Commission President Barroso to contribute 100 million Euro (US$ 135 million) in 2007 and a further 100 million Euro per year for three years (2008-2010).
"Today's announcement will help us extend lifesaving treatment and prevention programs to hundreds of thousands of people. By announcing a four-year pledge to the Global Fund one week before the G8 meeting, the European Commission is showing true leadership and challenging the G8 leaders to live up to their commitments" said Michel Kazatchkine, Executive Director of the Global Fund.
The European Commission has contributed 522 million Euro to the Global Fund since its inception in 2002. Taken together with the funding provided by European Union member states, Europe has provided some 55 percent of the US$ 10.4 billion in funding pledges to the Global Fund. To match global demand for money to fight diseases and strengthen health systems, the Global Fund's board agreed at its last meeting in April to seek at least US$ 6 billion a year to fight the three diseases by 2010.
President Barroso said: "The European Commission is one of the leaders in the global fight against HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria. This pledge keeps us there. It is part of the European Union's commitment to the poorest and most vulnerable, in terms of aid, trade and political support."
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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.
Since its creation in 2002, the Global Fund has become the dominant financer of programs to fight AIDS, TB and malaria, with US$ 10.4 billion in firm pledges and approved funding of US$ 7.6 billion for 450 programs in 136 countries. So far, programs supported by the Global Fund have averted 1.8 million deaths through providing AIDS treatment for 1.1 million people, TB treatment for 2.8 million people, and through the distribution of 30 million insecticide-treated bed nets for the prevention of malaria worldwide.
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Further information, please contact:
Noam Perski - The Global Fund, Europe |
Jon Lidén –The Global Fund, Geneva |
