Spain increases support to The Global Fund
22 June 2007
Geneva - The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria applauds the contribution of a US$ 100 million in 2007 in support of the Global Fund. The new donation brings Spain's total contribution to US$ 230 million for the period 2003 to 2007.
"Spain is among the powers of Europe who drive the fight against HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria forward," said Dr Michel Kazatchkine, Executive Director of the Global Fund. "Through its contribution it shows its belief in the lifesaving mission of the Global Fund. As we prepare for our effort to triple our resources by 2010, we hope other donors will follow Spain's lead and also significantly increase their contributions."
Spain is currently the tenth-biggest donor to the Global Fund. The proportion of Official Development Assistance that it invests in the Global Fund is on par with investments made by top donors to the organization. Since 2004, Spain's contribution has grown almost seven-fold from US$ 15 million to US$ 100 million.
During her recent meeting with Dr. Michel Kazatchkine in Madrid, Leire Pajín, Secretary of State for International Cooperation, stressed Spain's commitment with global efforts against HIV/AIDS; tuberculosis and malaria, confirmed its continuous support to the activities of the Global Fund and recalled the importance of taking into account gender issues and national health services strengthening to accomplish better results in the struggle against these three diseases.
The Global Fund is currently preparing for its second replenishment meeting, which will be hosted on 26 to 28 September 2007 by the German Government in Berlin. During the meeting donors will assess the resource needs and the available funding in the light of latest forecasts. After the recent G8 meeting in Heiligendamm, Germany, where leaders reconfirmed their commitment to universal access by 2010, the Global Fund is hopeful that new pledges will be made to the Global Fund in Germany's capital in September.
Since its creation in 2002, the Global Fund has grown to 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 more than 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 distributing 30 million insecticide-treated bed nets for the prevention of malaria worldwide.