Montreal, Canada, September 17, 2016 – The Interagency Coalition on AIDS and Development (ICAD), International Council Of Aids Service Organizations (ICASO) and RESULTS Canada applaud global leaders as well as Canadian and international communities for meeting the US13 billion target to fully fund the Global Fund to fight AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria for 2017-2019.
“RESULTS Canada is delighted world leaders have stepped up to meet the US13 billion target. We are proud of citizen advocates who have worked so hard for this moment – their work will make a real difference to people at risk of or living with AIDS, TB and malaria,” says Lauren Dobson-Hughes, Executive Director at RESULTS Canada.
Although the Global Fund has met its replenishment objective, further mobilization, resources and leadership are needed to bring an end to these three epidemics by 2030 – one of targets of the United Nations’ Global Goals. “
The success of this replenishment is one of many critical steps in ensuring communities have the support they need to respond to and eradicate these epidemics by 2030,” says Mary Ann Torres, Executive Director of ICASO. “This funding will save the lives of 8 million people and prevent 300 million new infections.”
ICAD, ICASO and RESULTS Canada commend Canada for playing a leadership role by hosting the replenishment conference, pledging CAD785 million to the Global Fund, and encouraging other countries to meet their obligations to the world’s poorest. Canada has been a committed supporter of The Global Fund since its inception in 2002, with contributions to date totalling CAD2.1 billion. However, in spite of its leadership, one country cannot fight to end these diseases on its own. Ensuring eradication of these epidemics will require global leadership and support from all countries.
“We are proud of Canada’s leadership role during this replenishment campaign. This is one step on a long path, and we look forward to Canada’s continued leader in the fight to end AIDS, TB and malaria,” says Robin Montgomery, Executive Director of ICAD. “Canadian should be proud of the difference we’ll make to the lives of the poorest, but we can’t stop here. Our development assistance is at historic lows, and we can do so much better.”
The Global Fund is an international financing institution that mobilizes and disburses resources to countries to support programming that prevents, treats, and cares for people living with and affected by HIV/AIDS, TB and malaria. The global partnership has saved more than 20 million lives to date and supports more than 1,000 programs in more than 100 countries where the burden of disease is greatest.
In 2015 HIV/AIDS claimed 1.1 million people, and 2.1 million people became newly infected with HIV. More than two-thirds of new HIV infections are in sub-Saharan Africa. Tuberculosis kills 1.5 million people a year worldwide and the number is rising. In 2014 there were an estimated 480,000 new cases, and the majority of cases occur in Africa and South-East Asia. Malaria kills approximately 584 000 people per year, most of them children under five in Africa. On average, malaria kills a child every minute.
RESULTS Canada is a movement of passionate, committed everyday people. Together we use our voices to influence political decisions that will bring an end to global poverty.
ICAD is a coalition of approximately 100 AIDS service organizations, non-governmental organizations, faith-based organizations, educational institutions and labour unions, which helps Canadians contribute to international HIV/AIDS work and ensures that the lessons learned from the global response to HIV/AIDS are utilized by Canadian organizations to improve prevention, care, treatment and support work in Canada.
ICASO is a Canadian organization that acts as a global policy voice on HIV issues that impact diverse communities around the world.
For more information:
Nora Abouguendia
Consultant, RESULTS Canada
nora@results-resultats.ca
613-562-9240 ext. 104
