Friends of the Global Fight Lauds Large-scale Actions Outlined at Today's 2008 MDG Malaria Summit

WSWIRE FRIENDS OF THE GLOBAL FIGHT LOGO FRIENDS OF THE GLOBAL FIGHT LOGOFriends of the Global Fight Against AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria's Logo. (PRNewsFoto/Friends of the Global Fight Against AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria) NEW YORK, NY UNITED STATES 09/25/2008

25 Sep 2008 18:02 Africa/Lagos

Friends of the Global Fight Lauds Large-scale Actions Outlined at Today's 2008 MDG Malaria Summit

The Global Fund Requests Approval of $1.62 Billion for Malaria Programs - If Granted, Universal Access to Bed Nets Achievable by 2010

NEW YORK, Sept. 25 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Friends of the Global Fight applauds commitments made at the 2008 MDG Malaria Summit, held in tandem with the annual United Nations assembly of world leaders in New York, which this year is discussing the Millennium Development Goals.


(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20080925/DC35212LOGO )


Of the announcements made, the largest came from the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, who said its Board of Directors will be asked to approve $1.62 billion in funding for programs to combat malaria over two years. If approved, this represents the biggest request for malaria financing to date. In addition to the Global Fund's announcement, several funding pledges to fight malaria over the coming years were made by a number of actors, including private sector companies, the World Bank and the UK government, totaling nearly $3 billion. All of these commitments will support rapid implementation of the Global Malaria Action Plan, an unprecedented new strategy that was also launched today by the Roll Back Malaria Partnership with the broad support of a united malaria community.


"The Global Fund's announcement represents the largest single round of malaria funding requested in its history," said Natasha Bilimoria, Executive Director of Friends of the Global Fight Against AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria. "An unprecedented round of funding can bring unprecedented change; if the Board of Directors approves this request, the Global Fund can make universal access to bed nets by 2010 a reality."


In response to a global call to more effectively combat malaria and close the bed net gap, Global Fund-financed programs have significantly scaled up their work. In addition to the 59 million bed nets already distributed by Global Fund programs, this new funding, if approved, would allow for an additional 100 million nets -- in addition to effective malaria medicines -- to be purchased and distributed over the next two years. The Global Fund is currently financing malaria programs in 79 countries worth $3.7 billion, and is providing two-thirds of all international funding for malaria.


"The country proposals requesting funding -- all of which meet the Global Fund's high standards for quality and technical merit -- are poised to quickly and effectively make a significant impact on the burden of malaria around the world," said Bilimoria. "Our investments in global health work have translated into lives saved, and we must continue to put significant resources behind these successful programs."


Since its creation in 2002, the Global Fund has committed more than $11.5 billion to 136 countries around the world to fight AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria. Currently, the Global Fund provides about one-quarter of international financing to fight AIDS and two-thirds of international funding for tuberculosis and malaria programs.


FRIENDS OF THE GLOBAL FIGHT AGAINST AIDS, TUBERCULOSIS AND MALARIA


Friends of the Global Fight works to educate, engage and mobilize American decision makers to support the Global Fund and the fight to end the worldwide burden of AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria. For more information about Friends of the Global Fight, visit www.theglobalfight.org.


THE GLOBAL FUND TO FIGHT AIDS, TUBERCULOSIS AND MALARIA


The Global Fund is a unique global public/private partnership dedicated to attracting and disbursing additional resources to prevent and treat HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria. This partnership between governments, civil society, the private sector and affected communities represents a new approach to international health financing. The Global Fund works in close collaboration with other bilateral and multilateral organizations to supplement existing efforts dealing with the three diseases. For more information about the Global Fund, visit www.theglobalfund.org.


Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20080925/DC35212LOGO
http://photoarchive.ap.org/
PRN Photo Desk, photodesk@prnewswire.com
Source: Friends of the Global Fight Against AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria

CONTACT: Sara Green of Friends of the Global Fight Against AIDS,
Tuberculosis and Malaria, O: +1-202-789-0801, M: +1-617-233-1714,
sara@theglobalfight.org


Web Site: http://www.theglobalfight.org/

25 Sep 2008
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Friends of the Global Fight Lauds Large-scale Actions Outlined at Today's 2008 MDG Malaria Summit
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