 APPG Chair, Andrew George MP (St Ives, Liberal Democrat) asked the Secretary of State for International Development - in an oral question on the 7th December – about the crisis at the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria and what could be done to put the Fund back on the front foot in the fight against the three diseases.
In response the Secretary of State said: "It is true that the 11th round has been converted into a new funding approach, but we will sign grants between now and 2013 of something like $10 billion, so long as we can ensure that our priorities of securing lower prices and good value for money, focusing on the poorest and most vulnerable and considering the longer-term sustainability of programmes are met." |
 On Wednesday,7th December, the three All Party Parliamentary Groups (APPGs) on global tuberculosis (TB), HIV/AIDS, and malaria, joined together to host a discussion on the current state and possible future of the Global Fund to fight AIDS, TB and Malaria (GFATM) in the Houses of Parliament. This meeting followed the highly unexpected cancellation of round eleven funding, due to the failure of some donors, excluding the UK, to meet committed pledges.
The GFATM is a vital actor in the global fight against TB, HIV/Aids and malaria, providing for more than 70% of TB and malaria programmes globally, and channelling half of all anti-retroviral drugs. Implications of the annual withdrawal are expected to undermine global efforts to battle these diseases, threatening millions of lives.
The meeting panel consisted of Sir Richard Feachem, Founding Director of the Fund, Dr Christoph Benn, Director of External Relations, and Simon Bland, Chair of the GFATM Board and Head of the GFATM Team in DFID. Speakers opened up a forum where key funding figures, parliamentarians and members of civil society were brought together to discuss the parameters of the crisis and explore the possibilities of moving forward.
Despite discussion of its flaws and acknowledgement of recent media allegations with regard to misuse of funds, speakers emphasised the unique nature of the GFATM as a self-critical, transparent and continually changing institution. Recent scientific research has also brought hope this year, with the end of Aids in sight and significant progress in malarial and TB treatments made possible through the fund.
Speakers outlined how civil society has mobilised around the fund in an unprecedented manner, creating a solid foundation of support which can be built upon. World Aids Day also saw Obama give a speech where he lent his explicit support towards addressing Aids for the first time, and the UK Government is providing real leadership in support of the fund frontloading its funding commitment to the fund. |
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