The Global Fund welcomes new U.S. Malaria initiative
30 June 2005
Geneva - The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria welcomes the initiative announced today by the United States to increase its efforts to fight malaria, and looks forward to working closely with the United States to roll back malaria across Africa and elsewhere.
"The Global Fund today finances nearly three quarters of current international malaria expenditure globally," said Michel Kazatchkine, the Vice Chair of the Global Fund Board. "But there is still need for substantial new resources, particularly for technical assistance, and additional money is very welcome."
The United States is the leading donor to the Global Fund and the Global Fund is currently the main vehicle for U.S.-financed malaria interventions.
The Global Fund has committed around US$ 1 billion over two years to fight malaria in over 70 countries and could provide as much as US$ 3 billion to these programs over five years. These programs will provide 145 million treatments for malaria with new, effective drugs and deliver 108 million bed nets. The Global Fund expects to approve malaria grants for another US$ 300 - US$ 500 million in September. The Global Fund has total funding needs of US$ 7.1 billion for the two-year period of 2006-2007. Approximately one third of this need is for malaria programs.
"As the resources committed to fighting malaria increase and the actors become more numerous, it is very important to follow the leadership and coordination of the Roll Back Malaria (RBM) Partnership," said Richard Feachem, the Executive Director of the Global Fund. "We will be working closely with RBM and the new U.S. initiative to ensure maximum synergy and impact at the country level."