For Immediate Release // 31 March 2009

Just 1% of Funding Amount to IMF Discussed At G20 Could Instead

Save Over 2 Million Lives, Say Activists

WILL OBAMA & BROWN FUND AIDS, TB & MALARIA IN TIMES OF CRISIS?

In Caceres, Spain:
Matthew Kavanagh +1 202-486-2488
Asia Russell +1 267-475-2645

Caceres, Spain—As world leaders prepare to meet in London, AIDS and health activists gathered at the launch of smaller meeting of donor-country officials gathered to discuss the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB, and Malaria. The Global Fund is the largest multilateral funding instrument responding to these diseases, while investing in country health systems. It has so far saved over 3.5 million lives. Projections prepared by the Global Fund show a funding gap of between $4 and $9 billion for 2009 and 2010.

Officials from the world’s wealthiest nations, in Spain for the Global Fund “Mid Term Review,” have received an update showing the Fund is succeeding beyond expectations along with warnings that this success will be undermined if donors to do not increase their pledges. In the coming year two “rounds” of funding along with innovative investments in national strategies are planned—yet donor pledges have not yet come in to fully support these plans.

Activists noted that just 1% of the $500 billion that G20 leaders are planning to invest in the IMF to sure up the financial system is the amount needed to fill the immediate and urgent gap. AIDS, TB, and Malaria—the world’s biggest infectious killers, responsible for 15,000 deaths each day—undermine the economies of nations.

Underscoring this, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon opened the meeting via video, saying: “In this time of economic crisis I say to you that spending on AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria is a smart investment. It is a true recovery package. Across Africa AIDS threatens to reduce GDP by up to 2.6%... Tuberculosis costs the world’s poorest communities $16 billion a year, containing it will cost just $4.2 billion a year. Malaria costs Africa $12 million a year, just $3.4 billion will pay for prevention and treatment.”

“Now, more than ever, we need the economic and social protection of Global Fund-supported programs to continue their growth,” said Asia Russell of Health GAP, the Northern NGO Board Member to the Global Fund, speaking in Caceres. “If President Obama, Prime Minister Brown, and the G20 can talk of $500 billion for the IMF there can be no excuse for not putting up one percent of this to fill the Global Fund gap as promised.”

Activists from the United States, Europe, Africa, and Latin America have gathered in Caceres and are available for comment. Monday activists presented the governments with a giant “Invoice” for $5 billion in order to save over 2 million lives. (Photos available)

The US contribution to the Global Fund for 2009 increased only 7% at a time when the approved programs tripled according to a plan for scale up agreed to by all donors.

“The Bush administration’s 2009 budget asked for a massive cut to the Global Fund and Members of Congress had to work hard to restore a small increase,” said Matthew Kavanagh of the RESULTS Educational Fund. “2010 is Mr. Obama’s chance to show what commitment to multilateralism, transparency, and results looks like in foreign affairs by committing $2.7 billion to the Global Fund.” Mr. Obama’s detailed budget is due out in the coming weeks.

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