Updated database of tobacco industry allies

 An investigation by global tobacco industry watchdog STOP has resulted in the addition of 25 new organizations to its Tobacco Industry Allies database. The database, launched in 2019, now includes 135 groups across 33 countries.

 
The tobacco industry are allies are categorized under ‘Third Party’, ‘Front Group’ or ‘Astroturf’ using definitions outlined by STOP. All these groups have some form of link to the tobacco industry. The investigation demonstrates that these organizations are increasing in number and are being created across the globe and at every stage in the tobacco supply chain.
  
Many of the newly added allies promote newer nicotine and tobacco products while others are retailer associations, business groups and farmer “advocates.”
 
The database permits you to search tobacco industry allies by name, location, or classification. It also gives you the option to easily share information with your networks.

Global Fund Applauds UK Pledge to Seventh Replenishment

 The Global Fund warmly welcomes the decision by the United Kingdom to renew its strong commitment to help end AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria and strengthen health and community systems around the world.

 

Minister for Development Andrew Mitchell announced a pledge of GBP 1 billion to the Global Fund for the coming three-year period.

 

“We are incredibly grateful to the United Kingdom for this renewed commitment to accelerate progress toward ending HIV, tuberculosis and malaria, and strengthening health and community systems everywhere,” said Peter Sands, Executive Director of the Global Fund. “Over the past 20 years, British taxpayer support has helped save 50 million lives.

 The UK’s new GBP 1 billion pledge is instrumental to helping us save millions more lives, get back on track following the reversals from COVID-19, and strengthen global health security.”

 

The new pledge comes on top of the record-breaking US$14.25 billion raised by the Global Fund last September in New York at its Seventh Replenishment Conference to fund its next three-year cycle of grants. The Global Fund’s Board Meeting on 16-17 November 2022 will approve the total funding available for the 2023-2025 grant allocation period.

 

Minister Mitchell said: “The UK and others founded the Global Fund because we refused to accept the loss of millions of lives every year to preventable and treatable diseases.”

 

“Countries with better health systems and healthier people are more likely to be stable and prosperous and this Fund gives hope and opportunity to millions who would otherwise suffer. Malaria kills a child nearly every minute of every day. These are wholly preventable deaths, and the UK is dedicated to preventing them.”

 

The United Kingdom is a founding member and long-time partner of the Global Fund. The country is the third largest public donor to the Global Fund, with a total contribution of GBP 4.43 billion to date. 

In February 2022, the United Kingdom contributed an additional GBP 60 million to the Global Fund's COVID-19 Response Mechanism to support low- and middle-income countries access diagnostic tests and treatments, including medical oxygen, to fight COVID-19 and mitigate the knock-on impact of the pandemic on programs to fight HIV, TB and malaria.