NEW YORK – Prime Minister Stephen Harper today announced the Government of Canada’s contribution to the third voluntary replenishment of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria.  He made the announcement at the United Nations’ Millennium Development Goals Summit. 
 
“Too many lives in developing countries are being lost to diseases that can be prevented or treated.  Canada is pleased to support the Global Fund’s prevention, treatment and care programs for HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria, which are saving millions of lives," said Prime Minister Stephen Harper.  “Mothers, newborns and young children are particularly vulnerable to these diseases.  Our commitment to the Millennium Development Goals is further reflected in the Muskoka Initiative and our leadership through the G-8 for a multi-country commitment to save the lives of mothers, newborns and children.”

Canada’s increased commitment, ratified with this new pledge, builds upon previous Canadian contributions to the Global Fund since 2002.  This new pledge will help to safeguard the substantial achievements already made through the Global Fund and will expand prevention, care and treatment for those most vulnerable to the three diseases.
 
The Global Fund is a unique public/private partnership that has saved approximately 5.7 million lives since it was established in 2002.  The Global Fund has achieved results such as the provision of HIV treatment to 2.8 million people, the detection and treatment of 7 million new cases of Tuberculosis, the distribution of 122 million bed nets to prevent malaria and the delivery of 142 million malaria treatments.  Canada is a founding partner of the Global Fund.
 

Backgrounder

THE GLOBAL FUND TO FIGHT AIDS, TUBERCULOSIS AND MALARIA
The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (GFATM) was created in 2002 to dramatically increase resources to fight three of the world’s most devastating diseases.  It invests in national health systems and health workers in the world’s poorest regions by improving infrastructure, providing medical supplies such as drugs and training those who deliver health services.  It makes a clear link between funding and performance by funding only services that deliver results for the people who need them the most.
 
Since the creation of the GFATM, donors have provided over $20 billion for grants in 144 countries.  The GFATM takes a country-led approach, leaving responsibility for program design and implementation to national governments and local groups.
 
Canada is a strong supporter of the Global Fund.  Canada’s new commitment of $540 million brings its total contribution to more than $1.5 billion — the largest ever made by Canada to an international health institution.
 
With support from CIDA and other donors, the Global Fund has provided AIDS treatment to more than 2.8 million people; medical services, education and community care to 4.5 million AIDS orphans; and tuberculosis treatment to more than seven million people, as well as distributing 122 million insecticide-treated mosquito nets to families with young children to prevent malaria.  It is estimated that 5.7 million lives have been saved so far.
 
The United Nations’ (UN) global summits and conferences held throughout the 1990s addressed global social, economic and environmental issues facing both developing and developed countries, especially ending extreme poverty.  The Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) summarize and incorporate the key goals and targets agreed upon by world leaders and other stakeholders at these UN meetings, which member nations have agreed to realize by 2015.  Canada made progress on all eight of the MDG goals, and has given particular priority to MDGs 4, 5 and 6, reflected in Canada’s leadership in supporting the Global Fund and ensuring an international commitment for the Muskoka Initiative.  The Global Fund is an international effort addressing MDG 6, designed to combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis.  The Fund also supports Canada’s commitments to MDGs 4 and 5, which focus on reducing child mortality and improving maternal health, saving the lives of women and children along three key paths: strengthening health systems, preventing and treating the leading illnesses and diseases that kill women and children and improving nutrition.
 
For more information about the Millennium Development Goals, please visit: http://www.un.org/millenniumgoals/