EU to increase its contribution to Global Fund

3 Mar 16

The European Commission has announced the EU will step up its contribution to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria to €470m over 2017-19.

The grant represents a €100m increase on the EU’s contributions in previous years, and will support the Global Fund’s objective of saving 8 million lives over the next three years and reach the sustainable development goal of ending epidemics of the three diseases by 2030

Neven Mimica, EU commissioner for international cooperation and development, said the EU’s step up in finance for global health was prompted by lessons learned from the Ebola outbreak in West Africa, and the “clear need to strengthen health systems in developing countries” that it evidenced.

Kicking off the pledging period towards the Global Fund replenishment conference, which will take place later this year, Mimica called on others to raise their contributions so that more resilient systems can be built, infectious diseases can be controlled, and that the special needs of women, girls and key affected populations can be better served.

The global fund is seeking to secure pledges worth $13bn. Its executive director, Mark Dybul, said with its “significant and increased pledge” the EU is “demonstrating terrific leadership in global health”.

“At a time when Europe faces global challenges like the migrant crisis and climate change, ending epidemics is a top priority that is interconnected with social stability, education and expanding opportunity.”

The Global Fund is a public-private partnership and financial instrument to fight AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria.

Since 2002, the number of people dying from these diseases has declined by one third in the countries where the Global Fund invests. 

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