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PrintHIV and AIDS :: Global Fund Campaign
Elias Mabuza is a person living with HIV/AIDS who has disclosed his status to the community. Here he is reunited with his mother, after he returned from Zimbabwe. Photo: Paul Weinberg/OxfamAUS
What is it?
The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria was created in 2002 to help developing countries significantly scale up responses to these three diseases.
So far, the Fund has committed more than AUD $7 billion for programs in 132 of the worst-affected countries. These programs have enabled 600,000 people to access HIV treatment, 1.4 million people to be treated for TB and 11.3 million bednets to be distributed to help prevent malaria.
Not enough funds
The Global Fund's progress in tackling these global epidemics is threatened by inadequate financing from international donors, including Australia.
The Global Fund needed AUD $3.6 billion in 2006 alone to fully finance new and existing programs in the three diseases.
Without substantial and regular funding from donors, the Fund will not be able to operate to its full potential, slowing the progress so desperately needed to prevent new infections, and treat, care for and support people living with and affected by these deadly diseases. The cost of not doing more is too high.
Inadequate: the Australian Government's pledge
The Australian Government has pledged AUD $75 million to the Global Fund over four years (2004–2007). Although we welcome this commitment, it falls below what Australia should contribute based on the size of its economy.
The Netherlands – a similar-sized economy – has pledged four times more than the Australian Government's pledge for 2006.
Australia’s current four-year pledge runs out in 2007. Based on the Global Fund's needs, Australia should make a new four-year pledge of AUD $640 million for 2007–2010.
What Oxfam is doing
We are calling on the Australian Government to:
- Make a new multi-year pledge to the Global Fund for 2007–2010 of AUD $640 million. Such a pledge would represent an adequate contribution to the Fund given the size of our economy and the Fund’s projected needs
- Increase its in-country support for the implementation of programs financed by the Global Fund in the Pacific
Oxfam represents Northern non-government organisations (NGOs) on the Global Fund’s Board Portfolio Management and Procurement Committee. This committee focuses on policies regarding medicines, the health system and grants.
Oxfam, as a member of the delegation of Northern NGOs to the Global Fund Board, has the opportunity to influence policy issues at the Board level. Find out more.
Take action
You can help put pressure on Australia to meet its international obligations to the Global Fund by writing to the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Alexander Downer, expressing your support for a new Australian multi-year pledge of AUD $640 million to the Global Fund. A letter in your own words has the greatest impact.
Links
The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria website
Aidspan - a small independent US based non-government organisation whose mission is to reinforce the effectiveness of the Global Fund.
Global Fund Observer - produced by Aidspan, this is a free email-based newsletter that provides an independent platform for news, analysis and commentary about the Global Fund.