Global Fund: another £ 11 billion required for progress on HIV, TB and malaria

The world's largest fund to finance measures to combat HIV infection, tuberculosis and malaria, is seeking investment in the amount of 11 billion pounds sterling. At the end of last week, French President Emmanuel Macron called this move “decisive” and launched the last round of the replenishment of the Global Fund budget this year.

Representatives of the Foundation say that the progress that has been achieved today in the fight against socially significant diseases has begun to slow down. The reason for this was the inconsistency of government actions and the increase in resistance of virus strains.

“We have made extraordinary progress in reducing deaths [from HIV, tuberculosis and malaria, - Ed.],” Peter Sands, executive director of the foundation, told BBC News, “but it stopped [...]”

Speaking about the organization’s decision to announce an additional fundraiser, Sands noted:

“For the first time as the head of the GF, I was really amazed by the strength of the political support of the foundation [...]”.

However, according to him, this was not enough to get the funds required to achieve the goals stated at the international level.

Nevertheless, Sands said he was confident in the solution of the task: "we have strong arguments in favor of investment and the necessary influence."

According to the Global Fund, an increase in the GF budget will help save an additional 16 million lives, as well as halving the death rate from HIV infection, tuberculosis and malaria.

The organization plans to spend all the declared funds ($ 14 billion) on medicines for the treatment and prevention of HIV infection, anti-tuberculosis drugs and anti-mosquito nets to protect against malaria.