Global Fund concludes 2-day conference in Brussels

Apr 12 2013

In Brussels on Wednesday, "the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria concluded a two-day conference where it tried to make the case for the $15 billion it aims to raise in a replenishment meeting late 2013," Devex reports. "The organization provided donors with a 'detailed explanation' of its 2014-2016 funding needs on the second day of the conference, Global Fund head of communications Seth Faison told Devex," the news service notes (Ravelo, 4/10). "According to a needs assessment by the Global Fund and partners, the fight against HIV/AIDS alone will cost some $58 billion in 2014-16, with additional $15 billion for tuberculosis and $14 billion for malaria," the U.N. News Centre writes, adding, "In addition to the needs assessment, delegates at the meeting heard presentations on new advances in science and implementation that can increase the impact of Global Fund investments to support partners fighting the three diseases" (4/10). "In his closing remarks to the conference, [Global Fund Executive Director Mark] Dybul gave a stirring and passionate appeal for everyone to join the effort, to do everything possible to reach new funding goals, because the stakes are so high and the opportunity so rare," an article in the Global Fund News Flash states (4/10). "If we don't seize this moment, we will be dealing with these diseases for generations," he said, according to a Global Fund press release (4/10).