It ended yesterday in Montreal (Canada), the Global Fund’s Fifth Replenishment conference during which donors pledged nearly US$ 13 billion for the next three years, a billion more than the previous replenishment conference in 2013. An extraordinary demonstration of global commitment, which will help save 8 million lives, avert 300 million infections and help build resilient and sustainable systems for health.
On the 27th of June 2016, in occasion of the High Level Event organized by Friends of the Global Fund Europe, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation and the Global Fund, at Istituto Superiore di Sanità (ISS), Italy announced a commitment of 130 million Euros for the next three years – a 30% increase compared to 100 million disbursed in the previous period.
In Montreal, Italian Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Paolo Gentiloni praised the Fund for the incredible impact it has had in saving more than 20 million lives, for the strong involvement of the community and for the leadership of the African countries in their operations, and it has boosted the Italian commitment to the Global Fund bringing it to 140 million euro for the three-year period 2017-2019, which also include a specific contribution for Italian technical assistance to the Fund’s programs.
« We are honoured to have hosted at our Institute the event that paved the way to this further increase” – says Stefano Vella of the Center for Global Health at ISS and vice-chair of Friends of the Global Fund. « Minister Gentiloni’s decision – added Vella – confirms the importance of the Global Fund for the Italian cooperation, reaffirms the role of our country among the major donors of the Fund and the Italian commitment towards a fairer world for all, and for an universal access to health which shall include young people, women, girls and especially the most marginalized and vulnerable populations. »
Minister Gentiloni’s speech in Montreal is available at:
http://international.gc.ca/world-monde/campaign-campagne/gfatm-fmstp/livestream-video_en_direct.aspx?lang=eng
Interventions and presentations of the June 27 High Level Event in Rome are available and downloadable at:
http://www.andreafiorelli.com/globalfundroma2016/