Note: World Lung Foundation united with The Union North America. From January 2016, the combined organization is known as “Vital Strategies.”
(New York, USA) –– At the Global Fund’s Fourth Replenishment meeting in Washington, DC last week, a consortium of donor nations, recipient nations and private organizations pledged USD 12 billion for the next three years, a 30 percent increase over the last three-year funding cycle, but still short of the Global Fund USD 15 billion target. Notably, the U.S. government said it would contribute one-third of the target — up to USD 5 billion – but this is conditional on other donors collectively making their USD 10 billion commitment by September 2014. The U.S. also pledged USD 100 million from the U.S. National Institute of Health (NIH) budget to conduct research for a cure.
The contributions announced include funding from 25 countries, as well as the European Commission, private foundations, corporations and faith-based organizations. Other government pledges include:
• United Kingdom: USD 1.6 billion
• France: USD 1.5 billion
• Germany: USD 824 million
• Japan: USD 800 million
• Canada: USD 612 million
World Lung Foundation Chief Executive Officer Peter Baldini, said, “The increase in funding from the last funding cycle is a good step in the right direction but wealthy countries must do more. The Global Fund is a bulwark against the pandemics of TB, HIV/AIDS and malaria. The donor contributions are urgently needed to not only keep current programs running but also to expand diagnosis and treatment of drug resistant tuberculosis, to implement WHO treatment guidelines for improved first-line HIV medicines and to start patients on treatment earlier. We urge governments and donors to step up their financial commitment to adequately address these leading killers.”
About World Lung Foundation
World Lung Foundation was established in response to the global epidemic of lung disease, which kills 10 million people each year. The organization also works on maternal and infant mortality reduction initiatives. WLF improves global health by improving local health capacity, by supporting operational research, by developing public policy and by delivering public education. The organization’s areas of emphasis are tobacco control, maternal and infant mortality prevention, tuberculosis, asthma, and child lung health. For more information, please visit worldlungfoundation.org