Global Fund Seeks Substantial Budget Increase to Offset Impact of COVID on TB, HIV and Malaria
Global Fund 23/02/2022 •
Doctors reviewing a patient’s medication in a rural TB clinic in South Sudan.

The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria is seeking $18-billion for its next three-year funding cycle – a $4billion increase over the previous period – in part to offset the impact of COVID-19.

“In the face of the catastrophic impact of COVID-19 on the fight against HIV, TB and malaria, the choice is stark: We either increase funding, or we abandon hope of finally defeating these epidemics by 2030,” Peter Sands, Executive Director of the Global Fund told the launch of the Seventh Replenishment on Wednesday. 

The launch was hosted jointly by the presidents of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kenya, Rwanda, Senegal, and South Africa.

“We must increase support to countries to build more resilient, sustainable and inclusive systems for health. This is crucial for ending HIV, TB and malaria, defeating COVID-19 and protecting people from future infectious disease threats around the world,” Sands added.

According to the fund’s investment case report, the total projected needs for HIV, TB and malaria for 2024- 2026 in the countries where it operates is $130.2 billion – a 29% increase over the 2021-2023 period. 

“This sharp increase reflects the fact that across all three diseases, we have gone backwards or stalled during the COVID-19 pandemic,” according to the report. “In order to hit the Social Development Goal 3 target of ending AIDS, TB and malaria as public health threats by 2030, we need to speed up progress to reduce deaths and new infections. This will inevitably require more money.”

 

It estimates that its $18 billion budget would enable it to save 20 million lives, cut HIV, TB and malaria deaths by 65% and strengthen health systems to reinforce pandemic preparedness.

The Global Fund has also developed a new strategy that intensifies the focus on building people-centered and integrated systems of health and “reinforces the emphasis on tackling the inequities, human rights-related barriers and gender inequalities that hinder progress against the three diseases”. 

Global Fund strategy

The fund has also resolved to use its resources to build pandemic preparedness and response. It aims to do so by investing approximately $6 billion in supporting health workers; strengthening laboratories, diagnostic tools, supply chain management, information and financial systems; tackling antimicrobial resistance, including drug-resistant TB; reinforcing community systems; and accelerating the shift toward patient-centered, differentiated models of care. 

“We are extremely grateful to their Excellencies Presidents Kagame, Kenyatta, Ramaphosa, Sall, and Tshisekedi for co-hosting the high-level Preparatory Meeting to launch the Global Fund’s Seventh Replenishment,” emphasized Dr Donald Kaberuka, Chair of the Global Fund Board. 

“This demonstrates their commitment and leadership in the fight against the three epidemics within their respective countries and illustrates Africa’s strong engagement and partnership with the Global Fund. Today, they are calling on the world to join them in their determination to reach this ambitious goal to end HIV, TB and malaria by 2030 and build strong national health systems to respond to emerging pandemics.”  

In the 20 years since the Global Fund was created, it has saved 44 million lives and cut the death toll from the three diseases by 40%. But the Global Fund’s Results Report revealed significant progress has been lost because of the COVID-19 pandemic and global resource needs have increased. This is why the Global Fund funding needs are higher than in 2019 for the Sixth Replenishment.  

US President Joe Biden will host the Global Fund’s Seventh Replenishment Conference later in 2022.

Image Credits: WHO/John Rae Photography.

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