PRESS STATEMENT

For Release: 10 AM EST Tuesday September 28, 2010

Contact: Asia Russell, 267-475-2645 or Matthew Kavanagh, 202-486-2488

World Health Organization report on global AIDS response:

Donor retreat on AIDS promises means reversal of global progress in HIV treatment, prevention

Two out of three people with AIDS still have no access to medicines

On the Eve of Critical Donor Meeting, President Obama Must Fully Fund the Global Fund

Health GAP released the following reaction to WHO’s Report on Universal Access launched today:

World leaders committed to reaching more than 80% of people in need with life saving HIV treatment, prevention and care services by 2010. Although 5.2 million were receiving treatment at the end of 2009, another 10 million who are treatment eligible remain untreated. By meeting only 34% of need, the world is leaving two-thirds untreated and facing the certainty of unnecessary suffering and premature death.

The world has failed to reach the goal of universal access for 15 million people in urgent clinical need of treatment, because of lack of political will, and lack of resources. For the first time, in 2009, the amount of donor funding for HIV actually decreased and the threat of flat-funding continues. Unless promised increases in funding and commitment materialize, in particular from the U.S. government, the largest investor in HIV treatment, the partial progress documented in the new report will stagnate or be reversed.

This report comes just before a critical donor meeting of the Global Fund to fight AIDS, TB and Malaria, Oct. 4-5 in New York. The Global Fund is the largest multilateral investor in the fight against AIDS, and projects it needs $20 billion between 2011-2013 in order to expand life saving HIV programs in poor countries. While donor nations must double their funding commitments to the Global Fund over 2011-2013 in order to invest their fair share, most wealthy countries are contributing much less. For example, recent promises from France, Canada, Norway, and Japan average only 20% more rather than the 100% need. As a result, the Global Fund might have to deny technically-sound requests for lifesaving funds.

But a bold pledge from the U.S. could reverse this course. We urge the Obama administration to make a pledge of $6 billion pledge over three as the U.S. fair share. In addition, funding for the bilateral PEPFAR program is deeply needed and we urge President Obama to make good on his campaign promise to increase this program by $1b each year—reversing the flat-funding from the last few years.

Coinciding with the release of WHO’s report, South Africa’s Treatment Action Campaign is leading activists from around the world in a ‘Day of Action’ today, demanding donors fully fund the Global Fund. The Day of Action will feature events in more than 20 countries, including a march of 1,000 people living with HIV and their supporters in Nairobi. And on Wed, September 29 at 9:30 AM the U.S. Congress House Committee on Foreign Affairs will hold a hearing (Rayburn HOB Rm 2172) on the U.S. response to global AIDS, featuring top Obama Administration officials as well as expert testimony from civil society including Paula Akugizibwe of the AIDS and Rights Alliance for Southern Africa.

We are particularly concerned that a donor retreat on AIDS funding will prevent countries from acting on exciting new research which finally shows the path toward ending the AIDS crisis. Providing HIV treatment to all in need, before the worst clinical symptoms develop, saves lives and reduces both costs and new infections. A recent study from East Africa showed a 92% reduction in new HIV infections associated with access to HIV treatment. We urge the Obama administration and all donors to change course and be the leaders who follow the science and put us on the path to end the AIDS crisis.

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