The Global Fund hits target, raises $14 billion to fight HIV, Tuberculosis and Malaria
In a surprise twist to the end of the conference, a total amount of 13 billion USD was announced. French President Emmanuel Macron added that France and Bill Gates, founder of the Microsoft Corporation, would top-up donations with 60 million each to make up the missing 1 billion to continue financing projects aimed at eradicating HIV/AIDS, TB and Malaria.
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France’s Emmanuel Macron had initially pledged a 15 percent increase of its contribution to the Global Fund along with an additional 15 percent of its total donation over the next three to five years. It has now added an additional 60 billion USD to that amount.
Throughout the morning session in Lyon, countries and private donors announced their donations, such as 1 million US dollars from Mozambique and 100 million US dollars from Saudi Arabia.
President Macron annonced the final amount following a presentation by Bono, Irish philanthropist and musician, and Bill Gates, who runs the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation finances some projects by The Global Fund.
Motivation
With France hosting this Global Fund Sixth Replenishment Investment Case in Lyon, President Macron kicked off the morning of donation pledges by asking 18 year-old Amanda from Burundi to tell her story to the heads of state and CEOs.
Before a packed room, Amanda described how she only found out that she was HIV positive at the age of 11. Three years ago she became more involved to help provide support to others like her.
“Because of our HIV status, we suffer from all forms of stigma and discrimination. Other people are afraid of us, we’re not allowed to do ceratin jobs, training sessions or getting certain schoalrships,” described a determined Amanda.
“We’re not just numbers or statistics. We exist. We are here. Who better than us here to tell you what decisions should be about us, because these decisions concern us,” she said
Argument made
After her presentation, Macron spoke again, and argued that these diseases can be eradicated by 2030 as per the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
“17 years ago we had done the unkthinkable, but today the situation is critical and we have reached a breaking point,” he said.
In an effort to encourage countries and other potential private sector contributors to donate, he pointed out that TB, once a disease thought to be from the past, has in fact returned in a multi-drug resistance form to Europe, Asia-Pacific, and Africa.
For its part, the incidence of malaria in Africa is rising again.
He added that complacency is simply allowing the world to “return to the status quo” even faster than before.
Donations request
Ahead of the conference, France had asked that each country commit to a 15 percent increase from its last contribution.
Big week ahead for the global fight against HIV / AIDS and for Président @EmmanuelMacron and France. They are hosting a funding round for @GlobalFund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis & Malaria that can save as many as 16 million lives and put us onto a path to end AIDS! Imagine that! pic.twitter.com/dkqYvkaAil
Elton John (@eltonofficial) October 6, 2019
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