Status: 08.09.2022 11:28 a.m
The federal government is increasing its financial aid for the global fight against AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria. 1.3 billion are to go to a global fund. The aim is to catch up on the backlog caused by the corona pandemic.
The Federal Government is significantly increasing its contribution to the global fight against AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria. German Development Minister Svenja Schulze announced that Germany would contribute a total of 1.3 billion euros to the Global Fund against the three diseases between 2023 and 2025. This is an increase in the German contribution by 30 percent compared to the last funding period from 2020 to 2022, as the Ministry of Development (BMZ) announced. The money goes to the Global Fund.
“Every year countless people still fall ill and die from these diseases,” said Schulze. “The good news: we can end these epidemics if we show solidarity.” She referred to existing treatment and prevention options for all three diseases, such as medication and mosquito nets.
Setbacks because of Corona
In the fight against the three infectious diseases, there were “significant setbacks” in the corona pandemic due to lockdowns, supply bottlenecks and overburdened hospitals – with drastic consequences for those affected, the minister continued. According to the Global Fund, more than 100,000 more people died from tuberculosis in 2020 alone than in the previous year.
According to the BMZ, the number of malaria deaths in 2020 increased again for the first time in 20 years, with 69,000 additional cases. Ending these epidemics is one of the global sustainability goals that the UN wants to achieve by 2030. The Global Fund plays an important role in this.
18 billion against the epidemics
Since the beginning of the corona pandemic, however, the fund has complained about significant regression in the fight against the three diseases. For example, since 2020 the number of HIV tests has decreased and fewer people infected with HIV have started treatment.
The aim of the Global Fund is to make up for these setbacks and end the three epidemics. On September 18th and 19th the GFATM replenishment conference for the next three years will take place in New York. The conference aims to mobilize 18 billion US dollars.
Germany as a pioneer
GFATM Executive Director Peter Sands said: “By committing to a 30 percent increase in contribution, the German government is clearly underscoring its pioneering role in ending AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria.” Germany had provided a total of one billion euros for the years 2020 to 2022, making it the fourth largest state donor to the fund.
The GFATM was founded in 2002. It is considered the most important international strategy to combat the three diseases. The fund does not set up its own programs, but finances national measures against the diseases. Since its inception, the Global Fund and its partners have helped save around 44 million lives in more than 120 partner countries.