The movement to end epidemics calls us to build more just and equal societies. Too often, the people most vulnerable to disease are the same people who don’t have access to health care because of stigma, gender inequality or discrimination. The Global Fund Strategy 2017-2022 recognizes the need for greater investment to include and expand programs to remove such barriers in national responses to the three diseases, so everyone can access the health services they need.
The Global Fund is taking a pragmatic and programmatic approach to reducing human rights-related barriers to health services. This human rights work increases the effectiveness of Global Fund grants by helping them to reach the most people and maximize uptake of services and retention in services, particularly for the most vulnerable.