The Global Fund welcomes large financial contribution from Italy
16 March 2005
Stockholm – The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria welcomes the announcement today by Italy of the release of €100 million, and the intention to contribute another €80 million later this year.
“The contributions from Italy are extremely welcome,” says Richard Feachem, the Executive Director of the Global Fund. “The Global Fund was born at the G8 meeting in Genoa in 2001 through strong Italian leadership. It is heartening to see that Italy is continuing its leadership and commitment to the Global Fund’s success.”
Italy’s announcement came during the Global Fund’s first replenishment conference in Stockholm, where representatives from more than 40 donor countries gathered to consider the Global Fund’s financial needs for the coming three years.
The Global Fund has so far committed $3.2 billion to over 300 programs in 127 countries. Around 60 percent of this funding has gone to Africa, and 55 percent is for fighting HIV/AIDS. Around half of the funding is being spent on medicines, malaria mosquito nets and other products, while the other half is for strengthening health services. While the average age of Global Fund grants is just under a year, already substantial results have been achieved, with 130,000 people having been supported with AIDS treatment, 385,000 people having received TB treatment and more than a million families having received bed nets to protect against malaria.
The Global Fund needs $2.3 billion in 2005 to honor current commitments. For 2006 and 2007 the needs are $3.5 billion and $3.6 billion, respectively. Donors will meet at a second replenishment conference in London in September, hosted by the British government and chaired by UN Secretary General Kofi Annan, to announce their pledges.