22 September 2010
New York, 22 September 2010 - Canada has committed US$ 520 million to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, for the years 2011-2013. The announcement takes Canada’s total pledges to the Global Fund to US$ 1.3 billion so far.
The increase was announced after Prime Minister Stephen Harper spoke at the Millennium Development Goals (MDG) summit in New York on Tuesday.
“Canada’s decision shows its determination to play a role at the forefront of the campaign to fight the three diseases,” said United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, who chairs the Global Fund’s Replenishment for 2011-2013. “Canada has helped to re-energise global efforts to fight child mortality and improve maternal health. This pledge to the Global Fund reinforces Canada's solidarity with the women, men and children around the world who are most in need of treatment, protection and care.”
In its capacity as the President of the G-8, Canada was at the forefront of efforts to launch the Muskoka initiative. Adopted at the G-8 summit hosted by Canada in June this year, the initiative aims to accelerate efforts to achieve Millennium Development Goals 4 and 5 which focus on maternal and child health.
Canada’s decision to increase its support follows an announcement by France on Monday to boost its own financial commitment to the Global Fund.
“Through this pledge, Canada has shown its commitment to the world's poorest mothers and children,” said Prof. Michel Kazatchkine, Executive Director of the Global Fund. “The progress made in the last few years means that we can now hope for a world where no more children are born with HIV by 2015 and today’s pledge will help in accelerating our progress in the fight against the three diseases.”
The Global Fund – which finances programs based on proposals submitted from 145 eligible applicant countries – has outlined funding scenarios of between US$13 billion and US$20 billion needed for the coming three years. Given the Global Fund’s large share of global financing for health – it channels two thirds of all international funding for combating malaria and TB and nearly a quarter of funding for fighting AIDS, as well as being the largest multi-lateral channel for efforts to strengthen health systems – the success or failure to secure new funding for the coming three years will have a significant impact on the world’s ability to achieve the health-related Millennium Development Goals by 2015.
More than 40 donor countries, private foundations, and corporations will meet in New York on October 5 to replenish the Global Fund’s resources for the 2011-2013 period.