In response to news that the most recent round of grants issued by the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria is nearly $1 billion less than just two years ago, AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) today called on nations to give more to help fight HIV/AIDS around the globe.
“The Chinese government should be showing more leadership on HIV/AIDS than it has over the past decade and it should be shouldering far greater financial responsibility in helping to combat the global AIDS epidemic”
"With a $1 billion reduction in funding from just two short years ago, it has become clear that the sustainability of the Global Fund is in real jeopardy," said Michael Weinstein, President of AIDS Healthcare Foundation. "This situation can and must be addressed by resolving the glaring inequities in Global Fund contributions. China is the most obvious and egregious example having received nearly $1 billion from the Fund over the past ten years, while contributing just $16 million—despite being the world's second largest economy. In addition to asking the Chinese government to 'Give more, take less,' we are also calling on all G20 nations to give to the Global Fund to address this funding gap that continues to grow year after year."
AHF's comments came on the heels of a statement issued last Thursday by the Global Fund Board of Directors announcing the approval of 79 grants with a two-year commitment of U.S. $1.7 billion. In 2009, the commitment was $2.4 billion for the same time period. In 2008, it was $2.75 billion.
On November 30th — the eve of World AIDS Day Dec. 1st — AHF spearheaded two simultaneous protests in Washington, DC and Los Angeles targeting the Government of China over its misuse of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB, and Malaria and urging that nation to "Give more, Take less." Over the same years, the United States has contributed $5.1 billion to the Fund—more than 28 percent of all contributions to the Fund. The protests took place in front of the Chinese Embassy in Washington and in Los Angeles at the Consulate General, People's Republic of China.
"The Chinese government should be showing more leadership on HIV/AIDS than it has over the past decade and it should be shouldering far greater financial responsibility in helping to combat the global AIDS epidemic," stated Mr. Weinstein, at the Los Angeles protest last month. "As one of the largest recipients of Global Fund money, China—second only to the US as the largest economy in the world—is taking desperately needed resources away from countries with far greater need. Through these protests in Washington and Los Angeles, we are urging the Chinese Government to 'give more and take less' from the Global Fund."
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