Alexander De Croo pledges 19 million € in the fight against AIDS, malaria and TB

Alexander De Croo, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Development Cooperation: “Belgium has been an active partner of the Global Fund since its inception. Together with the Global Fund, our country strives to put an end to AIDS, malaria and TB. The objective of the Global Fund is aligned with the priorities of the Belgian development cooperation: to build resilient systems for health and to promote human rights and gender equality.”

Mark Dybul, Executive Director of the Global Fund: “It is very encouraging that Belgium maintains its commitment with the Global Fund. We look forward to continue our work in partnership so that together we can end AIDS, Tuberculosis and malaria.”

The plegde of 19 million € for 2016 brings Belgium’s total contribution to the Global Fund since its inception to 212 million €.

Belgium also actively participates in the management of the Global Fund. In Niger and in the Democratic Republic of Congo, our country participates in the Country Coordination Mechanisms. These are commissions in which representatives of the local community, the authorities and health institutions develop and manage the programs of the Global Fund.

The Global Fund is a public-private partnership, founded in 2002 to accelerate the end of AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria as epidemics. Since its inception, the Global Fund gave access for 8.6 million people to antiretroviral therapy, tested and treated 15 million people for tuberculosis and provided for 600 million mosquito nets against malaria. This already saved 17 million lives.