Japan Increases Commitment to the Global Fund
20 May 2016
日本政府 グローバルファンドへの拠出を増やす [ download in 日本語 ]
TOKYO - The Government of Japan announced today a pledge of US$800 million to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria for the Fifth Replenishment that starts in 2017, representing a 46 percent increase when measured in Japanese yen, due to fluctuating exchange rates.
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe of Japan announcing a major commitment to global health.
Coming just before Japan's hosting of the G7 Summit in Ise-Shima on 26-27 May, the commitment signals Japan's steadfast leadership in global health.
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe announced Japan's intention to contribute to respond to public health emergencies, to control infectious diseases and to achieve the Universal Health Coverage.
The Global Fund expressed deep gratitude to the people and the Government of Japan.
"Japan has been an unwavering supporter of the Global Fund since we began, providing both financial and intellectual leadership to our partnership," said Mark Dybul, Executive Director of the Global Fund. "Prime Minister Abe's commitment to ending these epidemics and promoting access to basic health services and Universal Health Coverage is a great example of leadership in global health."
The Global Fund partnership was created to save and improve the lives of millions of people affected by HIV, TB and malaria, aligned with Japan's commitment to promote human security and leadership in promoting Universal Health Coverage, contributing to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals that were adopted by all member states of the United Nations in 2015.
Japan is establishing a Sustainable Development Goals Promotion Headquarters and the announcement was made during the launch of this initiative.
Japan hosted the Preparatory Meeting for the Global Fund's Fifth Replenishment in December 2015 in Tokyo, where leaders in global health discussed the challenge of funding programs to accelerate the end of HIV, TB and malaria as epidemics, and to build more resilient and sustainable systems for health that lead to Universal Health Coverage.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau of Canada, who will attend next week's G7 Summit, announced on 9 May that Canada will host this year's Replenishment Conference in Montreal on 16 September 2016. The Global Fund partnership set a goal for raising US$13 billion to be invested during the three-year period that begins in 2017.
Japan has been a strong leader in global health, and introduced infectious diseases to the G8 Summit's agenda in Okinawa in 2000, which paved the way for the Global Fund's establishment in 2002. Japan has been a strong supporter of the Global Fund and is its fifth largest contributor.
Photo copyright: Cabinet Public Relations Office, the Government of Japan.