Seattle, September 12, 2018 - The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria has saved 27 million lives in more than 100 countries since its founding in 2002, and is a powerful catalyst driving progress against three of the world’s deadliest diseases, according to the new Global Fund Results Report 2018 released today. Countries supported by the Global Fund saw a 42% decline in malaria deaths between 2000 and 2016.
“The Global Fund has transformed humanity’s fight against this disease, providing countries with the effective, innovative solutions they need to save millions of lives and prevent more than a billion cases of malaria,” said Martin Edlund, CEO of Malaria No More. “With continued support from donor countries and expanded commitment from malaria-affected countries, the legacy of the Global Fund won’t just be to ‘fight’ diseases, but to end them.”
The bulk of the Global Fund’s malaria investments continue to support countries grappling with the highest burdens of malaria. Amongst valuable efforts to combat AIDS, TB and malaria, the US$4.2 billion in grants provided by the Global Fund last year helped to disperse 197 million mosquito nets, test 213 million suspected malaria cases and treat 108 million malaria cases in countries burdened by the disease.
Furthermore, at the Malaria Summit London in April, the Global Fund announced that US$2 billion in co-financing from 46 malaria-affected countries has been committed for 2018-2020, unlocking another US$355 million of donor investments from the Fund to support national malaria control and elimination efforts. Based on current data, this reflects a 40% increase in domestic funding for health for the 2018-2020 grant cycle compared to the 2015-2017 grant cycle.
The Global Fund also has been instrumental in supporting the efforts of countries and regions with low malaria burdens to fully eliminate the transmission of the disease within their countries. This includes supporting Paraguay in achieving malaria-free certification this past June, and contributing to the Regional Malaria Elimination Initiative (RMEI) launched earlier this year. The Initiative aims to close identified technical and financing gaps and execute country elimination plans in seven Central American countries and the Dominican Republic.
Additionally, the Global Fund provides major funding to counter drug-resistant malaria strains emerging in Southeast Asia, and leads on funding emerging tools and innovations against malaria, such as new, more effective mosquito nets and the first-ever malaria vaccine, which is due to be rolled out in three African countries next year. The Global Fund also increases spending efficiencies with countries, and generated US$205 million in savings through pooled procurement in 2017 alone. This is money that, in turn, can be invested to save more lives.
US commitment to Global Fund crucial to success against malaria
The United States was one of the founding donors to the Global Fund, and remains the single largest financial contributor to the organization. In Fiscal Year 2018, The United States invested US$1.35 billion in the Global Fund. By law, the United States’ contributions to the Global Fund are capped at 33% of total contributions, which makes increased funding from other countries critical to providing adequate funding for the Global Fund.
“The United States investments in the Global Fund are essential,” said Josh Blumenfeld, Managing Director of Advocacy for Malaria No More. “Thanks in large part to the generosity of the American people, the Global Fund has achieved almost unparalleled results in saving lives, and we should be proud of our country’s ongoing efforts to end malaria, AIDS and tuberculosis. Continued, unwavering bipartisan commitments and funding to the Global Fund will be critical as we strive to end malaria deaths and cases around the world.”
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For more information or interview requests, contact Michal Fishman at +1 504-220-2792 or Michal.Fishman@MalariaNoMore.org
About Malaria No More
Malaria No More envisions a world where no one dies from a mosquito bite. More than a decade into our mission, our work has contributed to historic progress toward this goal. Now, we’re mobilizing the political commitment, funding, and innovation required to achieve what would be one of the greatest humanitarian accomplishments – ending malaria within our generation. Malaria No More has offices in the United States, Cameroon, Kenya and India and affiliates in Japan and the United Kingdom. For more information, visit www.malarianomore.org
