Canada Increases Contribution to Global Fund by CAD 650 Million
02 December 2013
Geneva - Canada announced that it is contributing CAD 650 million (US $612 million) to the Global Fund for the 2014-2016 period, saying that it wanted to seize an opportunity to help end the public health threat posed by AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria in developing countries.
The pledge represents an increase of more than 20% from 2010, when Canada committed CAD 540 million to the Global Fund for the 2011-13 period.
"A window of opportunity now exists to reduce the prevalence of HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria, to a point where they are no longer public health threats in developing countries," said Honourable Christian Paradis, Minister of International Development and Minister for La Francophonie. "Canada is seizing that opportunity: we are safeguarding the substantial achievements already made and helping find new and innovative ways to prevent, care and treat these diseases."
Canada has strongly supported the Global Fund since its inception in 2002, with a total commitment of more than CAD 2.1 billion.
“Canada continues to show its commitment to the world’s poorest,” said Mark Dybul, Executive Director of the Global Fund. “By supporting the Global Fund, Canada is helping to save the lives of mothers, newborns, and young children who are particularly vulnerable to these three deadly diseases. We thank the Canadian people for its continuous commitment.”
Minister Paradis added: "Maternal, newborn and child health is the flagship priority for Canada's international engagement and the Global Fund is one of our key partners. HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria cause an estimated four million deaths per year among those living in poverty, especially women and girls. Through the Global Fund, Canada's investment is saving lives."
With the help of Canada, the Global Fund has supported programs in diverse countries such as Tanzania, Haiti, Ethiopia, among many others.
In the case of Tanzania specifically, thanks to Canadian and other donor support, Global Fund grants have achieved remarkable results in the fight against malaria:
- Household ownership of at least one insecticide-treated net increased from 23 percent in 2004 to 63 percent in 2010.
- In 2010, 56 percent of pregnant women and 65 percent of children under 5 in the country reported sleeping under an insecticide-treated net.
- All-cause under-five child mortality fell by 45% between 1999 and 2010—from 148 deaths per 1000 live births in 1999 to 81 per 1000 live births in 2010.