Supporting Effective Programs that Save Lives

"There is no greater priority than ending HIV in the world and this is something American citizens and government must understand.  I believe we are required to support effective programs that save lives."  (President George W. Bush, December 4, 2011) The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria is commemorating its 10^th anniversary this month, an ideal moment to highlight the significant role it has played, and continues to play, in global health. The United States, under President George W. Bush, was the first country to financially commit to the Global Fund and our country remains the largest single contributor to it.  The work of the Global Fund complements the critical work of the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), which was started by President Bush in 2003 and remains a cornerstone of President Obama’s Global Health Initiative. Together, the Global Fund and PEPFAR, working closely with governments and public and private partners, have helped reduce new HIV infections in sub-Saharan Africa from their peak by 26% and avert 2.5 million deaths in low and middle-income countries.  Most of the lives have been saved in just the past few years, as countries have rapidly and effectively scaled up efforts to combat AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria[1]. In tough fiscal environments, raising funds is challenging, even for the strongest organizations. The Global Fund has thus far received $21.7 billion[2] and has the finances to continue to fund all programs that have been approved by its Board.  To remain successful, strong organizations must leverage new opportunities and adapt to new challenges.  Appropriately, the Global Fund has developed and is now implementing an ambitious transformation plan so that it can be even more effective in saving lives. As this critical moment in our international fight against HIV, we must continue to support the Global Fund, a program that has saved lives and will continue to do so now and in the future.