Fighting AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria

For 20 years, Americans have led the fight against preventable diseases around the world. In the wake of COVID-19, our support matters even more. The pandemic pushed global health systems to a near-breaking point and set back our fight against other preventable diseases.

For the first time in decades, 2020 saw dangerous declines in theprogress against HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria as the pandemic jeopardized access to testing and treatments. Without bold action from world leaders, for the first time since its inception, we could fail to fully replenish the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, the most important resource in the fight to end all three diseases.

U.S. leadership plays a critical role in the Global Fund’s continued growth and success. In 20 years, American support for the Global Fund has helped save 14 million lives, creating healthier societies and better futures. Pennsylvania alone has helped save 565,693 lives, provide antiretroviral drugs to 296,628 people, treat 64,007 people for tuberculosis and distribute 2,551,153 mosquito nets to prevent malaria infections.

There is good news here: In an unprecedented show of global solidarity, donors at the GlobalFund 7th Replenishment Conference in September pledged $14.25 billion for the next three years, which is the largest amount ever raised for a multilateral health organization. This record-breaking investment will go towards recovering gains lost to the ongoing pandemic and accelerating the fight to end HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria, three of the most urgent health challenges worldwide.

JACOB KHURI Greensburg