Published 18:32 IST, October 10th 2019
Global Fund seeks $14 billion to fight aids, TB, malaria
Heads of states, CEOs and health leaders gathered Thursday in France to try to raise at least $14 billion to finance the fight against AIDS, TB, and malaria.
Heads of states, CEOs and global health leaders gathered Thursday in France to try to raise at least $14 billion to finance the fight against AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria over the next three years. French President Emmanuel Macron, who was hosting the conference in the city of Lyon, wants the event to raise more than the $12.2 billion brought in at the last conference in 2016. A dozen heads of state and government, mostly from African countries, were attending the two-day conference of the Global Fund to fight AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria. Macron urged leaders to accelerate the donations in his opening speech.
“If we meet our commitments in the next three years, 16 million lives can be saved”, he said. “We must reach $14 million in the next three hours.”
U.S. Congress approves commitment to give $4.68 billion
Macron said France raised its pledge by 15% to 1.24 billion euros ($1.37 billion). The U.S. Congress has approved a commitment to give a total of $4.68 billion over three years. The U.S. and France are the biggest donors. The donations from governments, philanthropic donors and the private sector will be used to finance health programs in more than 100 countries. Major recipients of the fund are Nigeria, Tanzania, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Mozambique, and Zimbabwe. The Global Fund said the money would help avert 234 million infections and try to get back on track to end HIV, tuberculosis, and malaria as epidemics by 2030.
Salesforce is renewing its support
The organization said the programs it has supported since its creation in 2002 have saved 32 million lives.
Bank of America is expanding its commitment to the AIDS fight by renewing its partnership with (RED) through 2025 and making an additional commitment of $10 million to The Global Fund by 2025. With this commitment, Bank of America brings its total commitment to The Global Fund to more than USD $30 million. Salesforce is renewing its support for the work of the Global Fund by extending the company’s partnership with (RED) through 2025 and a commitment of USD $5 million to fight AIDS within that period. To date, Salesforce has generated more than USD $6 million for the Global Fund through a variety of activations and events that have engaged millions of people.
Updated 18:58 IST, October 10th 2019