Backgrounder

From the Prime Minister's Web Site (http://www.pm.gc.ca/)

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Backgrounder: The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria

September 21, 2010
New York, New York

The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (GFATM) was created in 2002 to dramatically increase resources to fight three of the world's most devastating diseases. It invests in national health systems and health workers in the world's poorest regions by improving infrastructure, providing medical supplies such as drugs and training those who deliver health services. It makes a clear link between funding and performance by funding only services that deliver results for the people who need them the most.

Since the creation of the GFATM, donors have provided over $20 billion for grants in 144 countries. The GFATM takes a country-led approach, leaving responsibility for program design and implementation to national governments and local groups.

Canada is a strong supporter of the Global Fund. Canada's new commitment of $540 million brings its total contribution to more than $1.5 billion — the largest ever made by Canada to an international health institution.

With support from CIDA and other donors, the Global Fund has provided AIDS treatment to more than 2.8 million people; medical services, education and community care to 4.5 million AIDS orphans; and tuberculosis treatment to more than seven million people, as well as distributing 122 million insecticide-treated mosquito nets to families with young children to prevent malaria. It is estimated that 5.7 million lives have been saved so far.

The United Nations' (UN) global summits and conferences held throughout the 1990s addressed global social, economic and environmental issues facing both developing and developed countries, especially ending extreme poverty. The Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) summarize and incorporate the key goals and targets agreed upon by world leaders and other stakeholders at these UN meetings, which member nations have agreed to realize by 2015. Canada made progress on all eight of the MDG goals, and has given particular priority to MDGs 4, 5 and 6, reflected in Canada's leadership in supporting the Global Fund and ensuring an international commitment for the Muskoka Initiative. The Global Fund is an international effort addressing MDG 6, designed to combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis. The Fund also supports Canada's commitments to MDGs 4 and 5, which focus on reducing child mortality and improving maternal health, saving the lives of women and children along three key paths: strengthening health systems, preventing and treating the leading illnesses and diseases that kill women and children and improving nutrition.

For more information about the Millennium Development Goals, please visit: http://www.un.org/millenniumgoals/

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