The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria has welcomed passage of the continuing resolution for the Fiscal Year 2011 U.S. budget which contains a US$1.05 billion contribution to The Global Fund.

“I offer my sincere thanks to the U.S. on behalf of the millions of people around the world who benefit from resources channeled through The Global Fund. I am grateful to President Obama and the U.S. Congress for this vote of confidence in the Global Fund and for standing firm by U.S. commitments to global health despite significant pressure to reduce budget deficits,” said Professor Michel Kazatchkine, Executive Director of The Global Fund. “Tens of thousands of lives will be saved as a direct result of this budget. And I hope that it will inspire other countries to follow the lead of the United States.”

With total commitments of more than US$ 22 billion to grants in 145 countries, The Global Fund provides two thirds of all international funding to fight TB and malaria and supports programs providing AIDS treatment to more than half of all the people who need it in the developing world. The United States contributions make up nearly one third of the total commitments to the Global Fund.

During testimony before the House Appropriations Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations and Related Programs last Thursday just hours before the vote in the House and the Senate, Dr. Christoph Benn, the Global Fund’s Director of External Relations and Partnerships, thanked the Obama Administration and Congress for their continued support leading to a bipartisan effort to protect international health funding despite the significant budgetary pressures.

“The Global Fund fully understands that these are difficult economic times and that hard choices have to be made,” Dr Benn told the committee. “However, the resources allocated to the Global Fund, as well as the U.S. bilateral programs PEPFAR and PMI, represent excellent value for money.” Dr. Benn made clear that with continued U.S. leadership, The Global Fund can leverage U.S. funding so we can “turn the corner on the three diseases and increase stability, growth and security around the globe.”

Source: The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria