Today, nearly 1,000 adolescent girls and young women will contract HIV. AIDS isn’t a disease of the past, it’s a crisis now. Millions of women and girls are at risk, but if enough of us take action, this year could be a turning point.
The Global Fund is one of the best weapons we have to fight AIDS, TB and malaria. The Global Fund supports programs run by local experts in countries and communities that need it the most. The innovative partnership has helped save 27 million lives so far – that’s 27 million people who can live, work, attend school, and contribute to their communities.
To help save another 16 million lives between 2021 – 2023, the Fund needs to raise at least US$14 billion.
You’re making a difference!
That’s where you come in! Over 120,000 of you have already signed our petition telling world leaders to step up and fund the fund.
You’ve sent tens of thousands of postcards and letters to key decision makers.
- More than 4,000 postcards have been sent to Maryam Monsef, Canada’s Minister of International Development.
- Tens of thousands of online letters and postcards have been sent to US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Congress.
- Nearly 1,000 ONE members have written postcards to Germany’s development minister Gerd Müller.
And your actions are making a big difference.
- Luxemburg was the first country to promise more money. In early February, it announced an 11% increase – that’s an extra €9 million.
- Next, Ireland pledged to increase their contribution to the Fund by 50%.
- And last month, the German Ministry of Finance hinted that Germany will up its contribution – come on Minister Müller make it official!
The clock is ticking…
In October, governments and business leaders will meet in France to mobilize partners and announce whether enough money has been raised to enable the Global Fund to continue its life-saving work. That gives us 6 months to push more countries to do their bit. Some need more of a nudge than others…
- Last month’s US President’s budget proposed providing 30% less than what is needed from the US. That could put 1.5 million lives at risk in the next 3 years.
- Right now the EU is working out its budget (2021-2027) and isn’t likely to finish until early next year. So, it can’t officially say how much it will invest in the Global Fund. But, the EU can make a pledge estimating what they are likely to give.
- And as the UK makes decisions about its future relationship with the EU, one thing all politicians can agree on is that UK leadership in global health must continue.
Before the Global Fund, AIDS, TB and malaria appeared to be unstoppable. In many countries, AIDS devastated an entire generation, leaving countless orphans and shattered communities. Malaria killed many more young children and pregnant women unable to protect themselves from mosquitoes or access life-saving medicine. TB unfairly afflicted many more people living in poverty. But, the world fought back and millions of lives have been saved.
We have until October to get the financial and political commitments needed to keep up the fight, and win!
