While there has been significant progress in the global fight against HIV, tuberculosis and malaria, the health burden associated with these three diseases remains greatest for the poorest people in the poorest countries.
In 2010 alone, these diseases claimed more than 3.5 million lives– 1.8 million were AIDS-related deaths, a further 1.1 million tuberculosis-related deaths, and 655,000 malaria-related deaths (86 percent of which were children under five).
Gabriel Jaramillo, General Manager of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (Global Fund), is in Australia to discuss AusAID's efforts to save lives through treatment and prevention of the three diseases in developing countries.
The role of the Global Fund
The Global Fund is a public/private partnership and international financing institution that supports large-scale prevention and treatment against these life-threatening diseases. It also provides support to build stronger health systems in the world's poorest countries.
The Global Fund has contributed significantly to global health since its inception in 2002. It currently provides around 80 per cent of international funding for tuberculosis, 50 per cent for malaria and about 20 per cent for HIV.
The Global Fund has saved an estimated 8.7 million lives through treatment and disease prevention.
Australia's support
AusAID and the Global Fund are working together to improve health outcomes, particularly in the Asia-Pacific region, which receives around 23 per cent of the Global Fund's grants. This has provided more than 500,000 people with lifesaving HIV treatment; distributed 46 million insecticide-treated bed nets; and treated 6.6 million cases of tuberculosis. Other results in the Asia-Pacific include:
- Cambodia's national tuberculosis program increased case detection rates to 65 per cent by the end of 2011, compared to 31 per cent in 2000. Global Fund grants account for a third of the national tuberculosis budget.
- Cambodia also saw significant improvements in access to treatment for people with HIV by the end of 2011, with an increase in treatment access for adults by more than 200 per cent and more than 1,400 per cent for children under 15 years.
- In Bangladesh, 1.4 million insecticide-treated bed nets were distributed to reduce malaria infection.
- Malaria prevention in Papua New Guinea has also been strong, with 2.2 million insecticide-treated bed nets distributed.
- In Timor Leste, almost 3,500 people received HIV testing and counselling in 2011; and over 450,000 condoms were distributed to prevent the spread of HIV.
- In Indonesia, 23,000 people are currently receiving HIV treatment (the Global Fund finances 50 per cent of the national HIV program). Alongside support from AusAID and USAID, the Global Fund is also working to strengthen health systems to ensure better and sustainable access to services.
Australia has committed $210 million over 2011-2013 to the Global Fund. This is expected to contribute to the treatment of 71,000 people with HIV, 63,000 people with tuberculosis, and distribute over 1.7 million bed nets to prevent malaria.
This builds on Australia's previous commitment of the same amount since 2004, bringing Australia's total contribution to $420 million by 2013.
Malaria 2012
To help address the issue of drug-resistant malaria, Australia will host a high-level conference on malaria in the Asia-Pacific from 31 October to 2 November in Sydney. The Malaria 2012 conference will encourage partners, including the Global Fund, to collectively combat the disease by strengthening regional health networks and advocacy efforts.
In partnership
The Global Fund is an important partner for Australia to reach vulnerable people living with HIV, tuberculosis and malaria in the Asia Pacific and beyond. It helps Australia meet the aid program's strategic objective of savings lives and accelerate the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals.
By 2016, the Global Fund aims to save a further 10 million lives and prevent up to 180 million new infections from the three diseases.
The Global Fund, with AusAID's support, has contributed to:
- saving 8.7 million lives.
- providing 3.6 million people with HIV treatment.
- providing 210 million people with HIV testing and counselling sessions.
- the treatment of 9.3 million cases of tuberculosis.
- distribution of 270 million insecticide-treated bed nets.
- 260 million cases of malaria treated.
More information
Australia and the Global Fund PartnershipÂFact sheet
The Global Fund [external website]
Australia's investments in health
Engage Blog: The Global Fund is making scarce aid dollars save millions of lives [external website]