SAC press release: UK set to let down millions affected by AIDS, TB and malaria

[Guest guest]

PRESS RELEASE: FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 25 April 2007

UK set to let down millions affected by AIDS, TB and malaria

In a sign that the UK is backtracking on its commitments to the world’s poorest people, the UK is posed to limit the growth of the fund that it helped establish to fight the world’s three biggest killer diseases.

Today in Geneva, the Board of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB and malaria (Global Fund) is due to make a decision on the size that it should expand to by 2010. Delegations to the Board from France, Germany, Italy, the EC and other European countries, along with delegations representing civil society and people affected by the three diseases are supporting the enlargement of the Global Fund to a size of US$ 6-8 billion by 2010. The UK, along with the United States and Japan, is resisting increasing support for this target size in favour of a more modest target of US$ 4-6 billion.

The UK’s decision to support a less ambitious target size contradicts its previous leadership on the Global Fund and on efforts to tackle HIV and AIDS, TB and malaria. The UK has demonstrated considerable support for the Global Fund in the past by pledging £359 million to the Fund to date but recent actions suggest that the UK is not prepared to increase its financial support further despite expected increases in its development budget at it moves towards the target of spending 0.7% of GDP on overseas aid.

The UK supports the fight against HIV and AIDS, TB and malaria through a range of channels. The Global Fund currently provides approximately 21% of external funding in the global battle against AIDS; 67% for malaria and 64% of TB funding. The Global Fund is therefore a key instrument for the attainment of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and the commitment to achieve Universal Access to treatment, care and prevention by 2010.

Anton Kerr from the UK’s Stop AIDS Campaign says:

“The failure of the UK and the rest of the donor community to support a Global Fund size of anything less than US$ 6-8 billion by 2010 will greatly reduce the likelihood that the MDGs can be achieved, prolong the course of the three epidemics, and result in millions of preventable deaths. The UK’s support for a target size of US$ 6-8 billion by 2010 is crucial if the UK is going to reach its commitment to Universal Access by 2010 made at the G8 Summit in Gleneagles in 2005”

In today’s Guardian, the UK is named as one of the few Western countries on track to meet its Gleneagles commitments and is urging other nations to step up their efforts. Tony Blair was quoted as saying "We also know there are still far too many Africans who die when their death is preventable with our help.” These people, and millions more around the world, will continue to die unnecessarily unless adequate funds are secured for larger Global Fund; it is the UK that now needs to step up its efforts and demonstrate its support for an ambitious Global Fund and keep its Gleneagles promises.

For more information contact:

Anton Kerr Stop AIDS Campaign Tel: 07951 022 052

ENDS

Notes to editors:

THE GLOBAL FUND

The Global Fund was set up in 2001 by the G8 leaders to combat the three deadly infectious diseases of TB, malaria, and HIV and AIDS. Since its establishment in 2002 the Global Fund has disbursed US$ 5.3 billion over 410 grants in 132 countries worldwide. Support from the Global Fund has enabled 770,000 people to be placed on antiretroviral (ARV) treatment for HIV and AIDS; two million people to receive tuberculosis treatment under Directly-Observed Treatment, Short-course (DOTS) and 18 million insecticide-treated bed nets being distributed to protect families from malaria. As of the end of January 2007, the Global Fund is estimated to have saved 1.6 million lives. A further 9.4 million people have been reached with HIV counselling and testing, 23 million malaria treatments delivered 1.2 million orphans provided with basic care and support, 23 million people have been reached with community out reach services and 3.6 million people have been trained to deliver related services.

The UK has committed £359 million to the Global Fund over the period 2002 to 2008 including £100 million in 2007. The UK is currently the fifth largest donor for the period 2006-2007 after the US, France, Japan and Italy.

THE STOP AIDS CAMPAIGN

The Stop AIDS Campaign is the campaigning arm of the UK Consortium on AIDS and International Development – a coalition of over 90 NGOs and Trade Unions promoting effective responses to the HIV pandemic.