Ambassador Eric Goosby Announces Three-Year, $4 Billion Pledge to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria

NEW YORK, Oct. 5 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- U.S. Global AIDS Coordinator Eric Goosby announced today that the Obama Administration will pledge $4 billion over three years to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria. The pledge marks the first time the United States government, the Global Fund's largest single donor, has made a long-term commitment to the Global Fund's high-impact work to fight the three diseases and strengthen health systems. This pledge also represents the largest percentage increase over the coming three years of any major donor to the Global Fund.

"I'd like to thank President Obama, Secretary Clinton and Ambassador Goosby, as well as congressional supporters from both sides of the aisle, for recognizing what we can achieve in the years ahead with sustained support," said Natasha Bilimoria, President of Friends of the Global Fight Against AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, which advocates in the U.S. on behalf of the Global Fund. "There is much that remains to be done to avoid death and disability from AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria in the developing world, but as a baseline pledge, this commitment is a solid beginning. We look forward to working with the U.S. government in the years to come to improve upon this investment and increase resources to address critical health issues on the ground."

Ambassador Goosby's announcement was made during the Global Fund's Third Voluntary Replenishment meeting, where donor countries and private sector investors convened to make three-year funding commitments. The U.S. government was the first — and has consistently been the largest — donor to the Global Fund, providing nearly one-third of the Global Fund's financing. This U.S. pledge is a baseline commitment, with a possible increase beyond $4 billion contingent upon the Global Fund's ongoing work to streamline its processes. Because the Global Fund leverages U.S. contributions with those of other donors, additional U.S. contributions in coming years would leverage funding from other donors as well.

"Particularly in this economic climate, it is a testament to the Global Fund's critical work that the Administration has decided to expand its approach and make a three-year pledge now," Bilimoria added. "Nevertheless, total pledges to the Global Fund are projected to fall short of the Global Fund's lowest proposed funding scenario, which means that new Global Fund-financed programs are in jeopardy. Particularly now, with so much already invested and when we are so close to reaching critical health milestones such as ending transmission of HIV from mothers to their newborns, we must renew our commitment to addressing these health emergencies."

The Global Fund is the largest financier of programs in the fight for better health worldwide. It funds two-thirds of all malaria and tuberculosis prevention and treatment around the globe, as well as one-quarter of all HIV/AIDS programs. During the past eight years, Global Fund-supported programs have saved the lives of almost 6 million people.

FRIENDS OF THE GLOBAL FIGHT:

Friends of the Global Fight works to educate, engage and mobilize American decision makers in the fight to end the worldwide burden of AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria. By focusing these efforts on decision makers in Washington, Friends seeks to build a sustained commitment to supporting the Global Fund and the fight against the three diseases. For more information about Friends of the Global Fight, visit www.theglobalfight.org.

SOURCE Friends of the Global Fight Against AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria