Over 100 Ukrainian public health organisations call for Liz Truss to increase UK investment in The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria

In a letter to the Prime Minister, 108 civil society organisations from Ukraine have said that the UK must increase funding to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (the Global Fund) by 30% at the Fund’s replenishment conference on 21st September.

Signatories say that throughout the conflict the Global Fund continues to provide life-saving HIV and TB treatment to over 140,000 patients and key prevention services to 170,000 the most vulnerable people. They add that due to the damage to infrastructure, rising poverty and falling GDP, greater support is needed.

The Global Fund’s 7th replenishment is now underway in New York, with governments who are yet to pledge expected to announce their investments on 21st September.

The Global Fund needs USD $18 billion to save 20 million lives by 2026, avert 459 million infections and get the global response to the three diseases back on track.

Yana Panfilova, Founder of Teenergizer and a signatory to the letter, said:

“Even before the war there was a high HIV and tuberculosis disease burden in Ukraine, but thanks to the Global Fund we now have seen AIDS-related deaths drop by 65% in the last 20 years, a huge achievement.

The UK has been a staunch ally of our fight against the Russian invasion but Russia must not only lose this war, Ukraine must be rebuilt and our people’s right to good health be secured.

It would be hugely unjust for our people to survive Russian bullets and bombs, only to die from preventable diseases. I urge Prime Minister Truss to continue bold UK leadership and join global allies who have also increased their pledges to the Global Fund.”

Mike Podmore, Director of STOPAIDS, said:

“As a co-founder and leading donor to the Global Fund, it would be disastrous for the UK to step back from its historic leadership at a time when bold, decisive action is needed to get us back on track to eliminating these diseases by 2030.

With other donors stepping up their pledges, a failure of the UK to join them would send a concerning signal to allies about the role Liz Truss’ Government will play on the international stage.

Moreover, the impact will be felt deeply by vulnerable and key populations at risk, including young women and girls who often bear the brunt of these diseases. It will mean fewer lives saved, more transmissions of these diseases, and therefore a further burden on health systems.”