By pledging €161 million for 2020-2022, Italy reaffirms its support to the Global Fund and steps up the fight against AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria
Biarritz, France, 25 August 2019 – An increase of 15% to the Global Fund from the ninth largest public donor was announced today by Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte at the G7 summit in Biarritz, France.
Friends of the Global Fund Europe welcomes Italy’s early pledge in a challenging time where collective action towards more equity is urgently needed. This pledge, jointly with the others, demonstrates how much the Global Fund is recognized as a critical multilateral instrument to go towards the end of the epidemics and to fight inequalities.
“By increasing our financial contribution to the Global Fund, we are moving forward and wish to do so together, with other donor countries by our side. Taking up the challenge of saving 16 million additional lives only becomes feasible if the international community gathers and acts now on behalf of a common goal – ending the three epidemics and providing health care for all, at all age,” states Former Director of the Italian National Center for Global Health at the Institute of Public Health and Vice-President of Friends of the Global Fund Europe in charge of Italy Stefano Vella.
Pandemics and outbreaks are putting the world at risk and more investments are more than needed to secure and sustain progress made against HIV, tuberculosis and malaria. At the frontline of the fight against these deadly diseases are the most vulnerable, fragile countries with limited capacities and facing inequalities in accessing diagnosis and treatment.
Thanks to a successful sixth replenishment next October, the Global Fund partnership “will help save 16 million lives, cut the mortality rate for the three diseases in half, and build stronger health systems” according to the Investment Case, in addition to “spur domestic investment of US$46 billion toward ending the three diseases and strengthening health systems through co-financing requirements, and technical assistance on health financing”.
Read the Italian version of the press release
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Contacts:
Marco Simonelli
Consultant for Italy
Friends of the Global Fund Europe
marcosimonelli@afmeurope.org
Anissa Tijani
Communication and Press Relations Officer
Friends of the Global Fund Europe
anissatijani@afmeurope.org