Some facts about the UN’s Global Fund to fight AIDS, TB and malaria

OTTAWA – Some facts about the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria:

Founded: The idea of the fund was discussed at a G8 summit in Okinawa, Japan, in 2000. In January 2002, the fund was established in Geneva to raise, manage and invest money to fight the three diseases, which were killing more than six million people a year.

Beginnings: In December 2002, the first disbursement of $1 million US was made. Pledges from national donors eventually climbed into the billions.

Disbursements: The fund has distributed more than $27 billion in grants in 151 countries.

New target: The fund has set a target for raising $13 billion US.

Canadian efforts: Canada has committed more than $2.1 billion to the fund since 2002 and plans to give another $785 million over 2017-19.

Accomplishments: At the end of 2015, 8.6 million people were getting anti-retroviral treatment for HIV/AIDS. Among other projects, the fund had detected and treated 15 million new cases of infectious tuberculosis and distributed 600 million insecticide-treated mosquito nets to protect people from malaria.

(Sources: Global Fund, Global Affairs Canada)