Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation announces additional US$ 50 million pledge to the Global Fund
14 July 2004
The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation has today announced at the XV International AIDS Conference in Bangkok that it will contribute an additional US$ 50 million to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, bringing its total contribution to US$ 150 million.
The announcement was made at an event in Bangkok where Nelson Mandela and UNAIDS director Peter Piot called for full funding for the Global Fund.
The Global Fund warmly welcomes this generous contribution as a reaffirmation of the Gates Foundation’s continued close relationship with the Global Fund. The Gates Foundation has been one of our very earliest supporters since its June 2001 announcement of an initial commitment of US$ 100 million, for years 2002-2003.
The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation also represents Foundations on the Board of the Global Fund where it has given strong and consistent support and guidance.
“The fight against the world’s most devastating diseases cannot be waged successfully without adequate resources,” said Richard Feachem, Executive Director of the Global Fund. “We applaud the leadership by the Gates Foundation in making this contribution and signaling its continued support for the Global Fund – especially at this critical moment when increased funding is so important. This will help leverage further funds from additional donors.”
After four rounds of grant approvals since the Global Fund was established in 2002 the total two-year commitments for funding now stand at $3 billion in 128 countries.
Over the full five-year terms of all programs approved to date, the Global Fund is investing over US$ 8 billion and will finance ARV treatment for 1.6 million people, DOTS treatment for 3.5 million patients, 160 million ACT treatments, 108 million impregnated bed nets, and voluntary HIV/AIDS counseling and testing for 52 million people.