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Global Civil Society Coalition Says the Global Fund's Funding Gap for HIV, TB and Malaria Will Cost the Lives of Millions
LONDON, Sept. 6 /PRNewswire/ -- Final pledges of money to the
replenishment of the Global Fund for HIV, TB and Malaria fell drastically
short of what was needed to scale up the fight against these three big
killers, said global civil society leaders at the close of negotiations in
London today.
Prior to the negotiations, over 500 NGOs from 87 countries (including,
from the US, Global AIDS Alliance, National Catholic AIDS Network, Health GAP,
DATA, World Vision International, RESULTS, Global Health Council, and others),
as well as individual signatories Archbishop Desmond Tutu, ex Irish Premier
Mary Robinson, Bono and Special UN envoy Stephen Lewis, had sent an urgent
appeal for full funding of the Global Fund to President Bush and leaders of
other donor nations.
The $3.7 billion pledged by donors today will be just enough to sustain
current programs. However, there was no funding for new prevention, treatment
or care programs for 2006 and 2007. $7 billion is needed to adequately address
the Global Fund's funding needs.
The disappointing U.S. pledge today of $600 million over 2006 and 2007 is
far less than the U.S. commitment to funding one-third of the Global Fund's
needs of $7.1 billion over the two years. Recipient countries including
Nigeria and China today committed $10 million each, pledges that are more
generous, proportionately, than the U.S. pledge.
David Bryden of Global AIDS Alliance said: "The world was counting on the
United States. President Bush made an important commitment to funding one
third of the Fund. By breaking that promise Bush is letting down the most
vulnerable people in the world. If his commitment to Africa is real, then
words are not enough."
Without closing the funding gap there is "essentially no prospect of
achieving the Millennium Development Goals," according to Richard Feachem,
Executive Director of the Global Fund
"This conference blatantly demonstrates that contributions to the Global
Fund should not be based on voluntary pledges. Funding should be predictable
and based on countries' fair shares," said Asia Russell of Health GAP.
The US Congress is in the process of finalizing its allocation for the
Global Fund; it could receive up to $600 million from Congress for US fiscal
year 2006. But the US share of the Global Fund's needs in fiscal year 2006 for
renewed funding not only for existing programs but also for funding new rounds
of grants is at least $840 million.
"The G8's historic promise of ensuring universal access to HIV treatment
will not be a reality by 2010 unless the U.S. keeps its promises to fully
support the Fund," said Asia Russell of Health GAP.