GAA Applauds Global Fund Board and Obama Administration

[Guest guest]

GAA

Applauds Global Fund Board Decision to Immediately Launch Round 10 Funding

Opportunity

Obama Administration Step

to Improve Policy in Global Fight HIV/AIDS, TB and Malaria

For

further information contact: nah Cernojevich

202-789-0432 x211

202-412-9707

April

30, 2010 – Washington, DC

– The Global AIDS Alliance (GAA) applauded the decision of the Board of

Directors meeting of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria,

in Geneva, Switzerland, as the Board decided not to impose an arbitrary cap on

funding and to immediate launch the 10th Round of funding

for countries in urgent need of additional resources on May 20.

This decision allows the Global Fund to maintain its commitment to countries

requesting support for their fights against HIV/AIDS, TB and malaria and to

continue leveraging successes in halting and reversing the spread of the three

diseases and contributions to maternal and child health.

“We’re

glad to see the Obama administration’s shift in policy as they stop pushing for

funding caps and ultimately support the launch of Round 10,” said Dr.

Zeitz, Executive Director of the Global AIDS Alliance and member of the

Developed Country NGO Delegation to the Global Fund Board. “For our security

and that of our global neighbors, we cannot allow people and communities to

suffer because lifesaving medications are limited to the few.”

Continued

Zeitz, “We see this as a possible sign that the U.S. will reconsider recent

policy decisions and we look forward to seeing this commitment further

demonstrated in a U.S. fair share of 2 billion dollars in fiscal year 2011

appropriations in support of the Voluntary Replenishment of the Global Fund

occurring later this year. Each dollar the Obama Administration provides

can leverage an additional two dollars from other donors, as U.S. law requires

that the U.S. provide no more than one-third of total annual contributions to

the Global Fund.”

Earlier

this week, GAA and HealthGAP called on donor governments to clarify publicly

that they do not endorse a funding ceiling. They warned that the

establishment of a ceiling would deny lifesaving services to those facing

HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria, and would represent a fundamental shift in

the principles of the Global Fund that risks reversing the important gains made

fighting these diseases that have been led, in large part, by the United

States. Had a ceiling been imposed, donor countries would have been breaking

their commitments to attain universal access to AIDS treatment, a commitment

made at the 2005 G8 Summit and the United Nations. According to UNAIDS,

less than one-third of those who currently need emergency HIV treatment receive

it.

“Today’s

decision preserves the Global Fund’s innovative demand-driven model, which

matches donor resources with developing countries’ ambition in expanding access

to life-saving health services,” said Dr. Zeitz. “Importantly, it also enables

countries to make increased headway on all the health Millennium Development

Goals, by ensuring there are sufficient funding opportunities to maximize

synergies between maternal and child health and AIDS, TB and malaria.”

The

Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria has paid for two-thirds of

the people who are currently receiving HIV/AIDS treatment. Additionally,

the Global Fund provides essential support for Millennium Development Goals #4

(child survival) and #5 (maternal health), which are integral to the success of

the Global Fund’s efforts. The Global Fund will hold its replenishment pledging

conference in October 2010, and requires a minimum of US $20 billion in pledges

for 2011-2013 in order to ensure universal access to critical lifesaving

programs.

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Founded

in 2001, the Global AIDS Alliance is committed to mobilizing the political will

and financial resources needed to halt global HIV/AIDS and reduce its

devastating effects. GAA believes that effective AIDS advocacy must

address the epidemic’s fundamental links to poverty and social injustice,

including gender inequality, lack of education, and violence against women and

children.