AHF Urges G20 to Prioritize Public Health; Fully Fund the Global Fund

TOKYO

With the 2019 G20 summit coming up June 28-29, AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) is joining other civil society organizations (CSOs) at the Civil 20 (C20) Summit in Japan to support C20 efforts and to call on the G20 to honor its earlier commitment to fully fund the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (The Global Fund)—the world’s most effective mechanism for fighting our deadliest infectious diseases.

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GRAPHIC: AIDS is Still a Crisis–AHF Urges G20 Countries to Fund the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (Graphic: Business Wire)

No other global body has more power to positively affect development worldwide than the G20— since G20 countries account for almost 90% of global GDP, 80% of international trade, and nearly two-thirds of the world’s population.

“AHF was glad to see the G20 declaration after last year’s summit in Argentina when it announced it would ensure a successful upcoming Sixth Replenishment for the Global Fund,” said AHF President Michael Weinstein. “The time’s come for those words to be turned into action. AHF urges the G20 to commit to pledging even more than the Global Fund’s minimum request of $14 billion. For it to meet global targets, no less than $18 billion will be needed over the next three years.”

With 36.9 million people globally living with HIV and 1.8 million new infections annually, the world is at a pivotal crossroads in the AIDS response. Funding has remained flat over the last several years, but with a rejuvenated effort to boost resources, the Global Fund, governments and CSOs have a chance to save millions of lives and reduce new infections. (see graphic: AIDScrisis.org)

“AHF applauds countries like Japan that continue to show an untiring commitment to the Global Fund’s mission by contributing their fair share of resources since its inception,” said AHF Senior Director of Global Advocacy and Policy Loretta Wong. “Unfortunately, there are other wealthy nations that simply aren’t doing enough and must step up contributions if we are to defeat HIV/AIDS. AHF urges countries like China to embrace their role as members of the global development community and join existing donors in ensuring a successful Sixth Replenishment for the Global Fund this October.”

In addition to building support for increased HIV/AIDS funding and resources, AHF will be supporting C20 efforts in Tokyo to raise awareness on key health initiatives, including the fight against tuberculosis and antimicrobial drug resistance, universal health coverage, quality standards of healthcare, and investment in medical research and development.

“We are honored to contribute to the C20 Health Working Group at this upcoming summit,” said Dr. Jorge Saavedra, Executive Director of AHF’s Global Public Health Institute at the University of Miami. “The G20 has a responsibility to not only fully fund the Global Fund, but to also address other pressing health challenges. AHF is fully committed to supporting our fellow CSOs who will be advocating for numerous health-related issues that affect millions of people around the world.”

Even though the G20 was established to address economic issues, there is nothing more important to prosperous nations than the health of their citizens. The AIDS response and other key health concerns deserve the G20’s full attention—AHF urges world leaders to adopt and start to implement the proposals put forth by C20 summit advocates to ensure that people from all countries have the opportunity to be healthy and thrive.

AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF), the largest global AIDS organization, currently provides medical care and/or services to over 1.1 million clients in 43 countries worldwide in the US, Africa, Latin America/Caribbean, the Asia/Pacific Region and Europe/Eastern Europe. To learn more about AHF, please visit our website: www.aidshealth.org, find us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/aidshealth and follow us on Twitter: @aidshealthcare and Instagram: @aidshealthcare

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