Newcastle North MP, Catherine McKinnell, has urged the Government to ensure the UK remains a leading donor to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB and Malaria ahead a Replenishment Conference taking place in Montreal at the end of this week.

Just over a decade ago, AIDS, TB and malaria killed over 4 million people across the globe each year. For most people who became infected with any of these diseases, access to the treatment they needed to stay alive was out of reach – either being completely unaffordable, or simply unavailable.

The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB and Malaria was therefore established in 2002 as a public-private partnership to fight the three diseases, since when over $33billion in grants to more than 140 countries have delivered a significant impact on the ground. This includes:

  • Antiretroviral treatment for 8.6 million people living with HIV;
  • Treatment to prevent mother-to-child transmission for 3.3 million pregnant women living with HIV;
  • Insecticide-treated bed nets to protect 600 million families from malaria; and
  • Detection and treatment services for 15 million cases of TB.

Through providing access to treatment, prevention and care services to communities around the world, the Global Fund has already saved 17 million lives and is on track to have saved 22 million lives by the end of 2016.

Since 2002, the UK has contributed over £2billion to the Global Fund and remains the third largest donor behind the USA and France.

At this week’s Replenishment Conference, the Global Fund is seeking to raise $13billion to continue its work over the next three years – and a coalition of UK development NGOs is calling on the British Government to pledge £1.2billion towards this target. This coalition is made up of the ONE campaign, STOPAIDS, the International HIV/AIDS Alliance, Malaria No More and RESULTS.

Catherine raised the issue yesterday during questions to International Development Minsters in the House of Commons, asking:

‘The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB and Malaria is on track to save 22 million lives by the end of 2016.

‘Can the Secretary of State confirm whether the UK will pledge the £1.2billion called for at the Replenishment Conference?

‘And how will she ensure that Britain’s contribution will retain its value in light of the pound’s post-Brexit fall against the dollar?’

In response, the Minister acknowledged the ‘real difference’ the UK’s role as a key contributor to the Global Fund has made, and commented that the Secretary of State ‘will be making an announcement in Montreal in the coming days to set out just what the UK will be doing.’

 Speaking afterwards, Catherine – who is Chair of the Parliamentary Friends of CAFOD and an active member of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on HIV/AIDS – said:

‘I am very proud of the leading role Britain has played in supporting some of the world’s poorest people through our overseas aid budget over the last two decades, and I don’t want our commitment to this work to diminish in any way.

‘So, I’m pleased that new International Development Ministers appear to recognise the vital role the UK has played in supporting the Global Fund and its incredible work.

‘Hopefully, this will translate into a real commitment at this week’s conference so that the Global Fund can continue to transform the lives of millions of people across the globe.’

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