USA Signals Consistent Commitment to Global Health

The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria expressed thanks for President Barack Obama’s request for US$1.35 billion for the Global Fund in his 2015 budget proposal, calling it a demonstration of consistent commitment to global health.

 “We recognize and are deeply grateful for the U.S. role in our efforts to defeat AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria," said Dr. Nafsiah Mboi, Chair of the Board of the Global Fund.

 “With the U.S. giving as much as it can, we know we can drive even greater participation by other countries to reach our common goals.”

President Obama’s budget request for the Global Fund, announced today in Washington, D.C., came as the Global Fund prepares to convene a meeting of its Board in Jakarta, where it is expected to discuss and approve measures to increase the impact of its investments.

The U.S. is limited by law to providing one-third of the overall funding for the Global Fund. President Obama’s budget request for the Global Fund in 2015 is aligned with the pledge of up to US$5 billion over 2014-2016 that President Obama made when he hosted the launch of the Global Fund’s Replenishment in Washington in December 2013.

At the time, President Obama strongly encouraged other countries to give more, promising to match an additional US$1 million for every US$2 million contributed by other countries through September 2014. The Obama Administration renewed that standing pledge today.

In April, 2013, President Obama requested US$1.65 billion for the Global Fund for 2014, expressing hope that other countries would come forward with twice that amount. Within legal limits, today’s request for 2015 is the maximum amount currently possible.

The Obama Administration’s budget request included an additional US$300 million for the Global Fund in a new initiative called the Opportunity, Growth and Security Initiative, which is subject to approval by Congress. That is an additional avenue of potential funding, should other contributions grow.
Over the last ten years, the partnership between the Global Fund and U.S. programs including the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) and the President’s Malaria Initiative (PMI) have jointly achieved dramatic advances toward defeating HIV, tuberculosis and malaria.