Global Action October 2009Tell Congress: The United States Must Lead in Supporting the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria!
Despite tremendous progress, AIDS, tuberculosis (TB) and malaria still claim the lives of 6 million people every year. The overwhelming majority of these deaths occur in the world’s poorest countries and among the world’s poorest people. The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria has been instrumental in turning the tide against these three diseases of poverty. Its efforts have helped saved the lives of over 3.5 million people. The United States helped found the Global Fund, and we must continue to do our part to ensure live-saving treatment, prevention, and care for millions more. Members of the House of Representatives are circulating a letter calling on President Obama to provide full funding for the Global Fund in his next budget. You can help build support for the Global Fund by asking your representative to sign on to this letter. Take action and help win the fight against AIDS, TB, and malaria. Sample Letter to CongressInstructions: Write a letter to your representative using the EPIC format (Engage, Problem, Inform, Call to action). Be sure to identify yourself as a constituent and to email and/or fax your letter, as traditional mail delivery to Capitol Hill can be delayed by weeks for security reasons. You can find your member of Congress and their contact information online: http://capwiz.com/results/dbq/officials/.
The Global Fund Gets ResultsThe Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria was founded in 2001 as an international partnership to fight three of the deadliest diseases of poverty. In its brief history the Global Fund has become a critical source of funding, having committed $15.6 billion in 140 countries to support large-scale prevention, treatment, and care programs for AIDS, TB, and malaria. Global Fund grants have supported:
These results are estimated to have saved over 3.5 million lives. What Makes the Global Fund Unique?The Global Fund isn’t just about more aid for global health — it’s about better aid. It has a unique and innovative structure that helps insure U.S. assistance makes a real impact in the lives of the people that need it most. Independent and accountable. Every application to the Global Fund is judged by an independent panel of experts and scored on its impact, community involvement, and transparency. Projects that are approved for funding are required to reach specific goals and must be successful to receive continued support. The Global Fund publishes the progress of all of its projects on its website for public review. Community participation. The Global Fund requires broad community participation in the projects it funds. Each country proposal requires the input of not only government officials and health experts, but also health care workers, faith-based organizations, the business community, and patients affected by the diseases. Leverage. The Global Fund is multilateral, meaning that the United States is joined by other developed countries in providing funding. Every $1 the U.S. contributes has traditionally been matched by $2 from other donors. The United States Must LeadDuring the presidential campaign, then-candidate Obama signed a pledge to provide the U.S. fair share to the Global Fund if elected. Especially now as a global economic downturn exacerbates the health crisis in the world’s poorest countries, the U.S. must fulfill its commitments. The Global Fund estimates it will need a total of $5.25 billion in the coming year to continue successful programs and fund newly approved proposals. Donor countries have not yet pledged adequate money to fund the bold, high quality proposals being submitted by countries in need. Without adequate resources, life-saving programs will be delayed or cut back. The United States isn’t expected to close the funding gap by itself, but it must lead the way by providing its fair share of $1.75 billion, about one-third of the Global Fund’s total need. |