U.S. Senate and House of Representatives recommend a 15.6% increase in funding to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria
For immediate release
19 September 2019 (Toronto, ON) -The US Senate Appropriations Committee posted the State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs fiscal year 2020 funding bill on September 18 recommending a 15.6 percent increase in funding the Global Fund from the previous year. If approved by the full Senate this will be the first increase to the Global Fund in the past six years.
“We are very grateful for the cross-party leadership shown by many Senators and Representatives including Senator Graham (Rep South Carolina) and Senator Leah (Dem Vermont) which has made this historic increase in support to the Fund possible” said Leopoldo Villegas, Director of Global Development One.
Since its inception in 2002, The Global Fund has saved 32 million lives in more than 100 countries where programs run by local experts have:
- Enabled 18.9million people living with HIV to access lifesaving antiretroviral therapy
- Treated 5.3 million people with TB worldwide
- Distributed 131 million mosquito nets in measures towards malaria control
“The increased US support will be a significant catalysis to other countries and Global Fund partners to step up their commitments to ensure a fully funded Global Fund. The Global Fund’s Sixth Replenishment Conference will take place in Lyon, France, October 9-10. With the bold signal by the US the goal of at least $14 billion in pledges is in sight” said Robin Montgomery, Executive Director of the Interagency Coalition on AIDS and Development (ICAD) and Alternate Board Member to the Global Fund Board.
The Senate Appropriations Committee rejected the administration’s proposal to amend the longstanding matching rate for U.S. contributions to the Global Fund and expects the United States to continue to match other donor contributions at a rate of $1 for every $2 received from other donors.
“The new funding will not only allow the Global Fund to continue its important work, but also reaffirms the USA’s global leadership in addressing the three pandemics and tackling human rights barriers to health for the world’s most vulnerable.” said Mary Ann Torres, Executive Director of International Council of AIDS Service Organizations (ICASO).
Contact:
Kate Alexander
Senior Program and Membership Officer
Interagency Coalition on AIDS and Development (ICAD)
Tel: 613-233-7440 ext. 110
Email: kalexander@icad-cisd.com
