The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria is an international financing institution that invests the world’s money to save lives. To date, it has committed US$19.3 billion in 144 countries to support large-scale prevention, treatment and care programs against the three diseases. The Global Fund is the sole donor of HIV medications (ARVs, or antiretrovirals) to the government of Malawi, where Dignitas has worked in partnership with the Malawi Ministry of Health since 2004 to increase access to HIV treatment.

THE CHALLENGES:
The United Nations estimated a need of $25.1 billion in AIDS funding for 2010 with a funding gap of $11.4 billion – including a shortfall of up to $5 billion for the Global Fund for 2010. Funding shortfalls have resulted in shortages of HIV medications in developing countries.At least 9.5 million people living with HIV are currently in need of treatment.Like other high HIV-prevalence countries, Malawi has been experiencing stockouts of life-saving ARVs. Each month, hundreds of people who qualify for immediate treatment are placed on waiting lists,significantly reducing their chance of survival.Last year, around the world, 430,000 mothers living with HIV could not protect their children from infection.Without a robust response to HIV/AIDS, attempts to improve other priority areas in global health – including maternal and child health – will falter.The global response to HIV/AIDS is being quietly eroded. Urgent and sustained effort is required to prevent the legitimization of this trend.

THE SOLUTIONS:

Governments must not only maintain, but alsoincrease and entrench their commitments to the Global Fund. Governments must commit the necessary resources at the Global Fund replenishment meetings in October 2010.Canada must contribute its fair share to the Global Fund, which is equivalent to 5% of the total resources needed by the Global Fund. The amount required for 2011-2013 is US$20 billion, which will allow for progress towards universal access through the continuation of existing programs and the significant scale up of well-performing programs.In the United States, the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) must continue to fund HIV care and treatment: its funding was flatlined in 2009 and 2010, and its budget for ARVs was reduced by 17% in 2009. As part of the new $63 billion Global Health Initiative aimed to provide an integrated approach to global health, PEPFAR budget allocations will now cover six instead of five years, reducing annual budget allocations for 2009-2014 from the initial reauthorization plans

WHAT CAN YOU DO? TAKE ACTION!
Tell your government that you believe funding for the global AIDS response MUST be an ongoing priority, and that your government MUST honour the commitments already made.

IN CANADA
Take action online or use the points outlined above and express your concerns to:

*Prime Minister Stephen Harper
House of Commons
Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0A6
613-992-4211
Harper.S@parl.gc.ca

*Hon. Beverley J. Oda
Minister of International Cooperation
House of Commons
Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0A6
613-992-2792
Oda.B@parl.gc.ca

*YOUR MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT

Note that letters written to the House of Commons do not require postage.

IN THE UNITED STATES
Take action online or use the points outlined above and express your concerns to:

*President Barack Obama
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20500
Comments: 202-456-1111
Switchboard: 202-456-1414
http://www.whitehouse.gov/contact

*Secretary of State Hillary Clinton
U.S. Department of State
2201 C Street NW
Washington, DC 20520
202-647-5291

*Global AIDS Coordinator Dr. Eric Goosby
U.S. Department of State
2201 C Street NW
Washington, DC 20520
202-663-2579

OUTSIDE OF CANADA & THE UNITED STATES
 Take action online!