Malaria testing during antenatal consultation at Rubingo health center.
Photo:Natacha Buhler/MSF
“The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) adopted with much fanfare just a year ago seek to end HIV, TB and malaria by 2030. The replenishment of the Global Fund is the first concrete action taken by the international community since the adoption of these goals, and therefore a first test of the world leader’s will to make them a reality. Failure to reach the Global Funds’ relatively modest replenishment target would be a clear message that the SDGs were but empty promises to the millions who, every year, continue to suffer and die from HIV, tuberculosis and malaria”.
Joanne Liu, MSF’s International President
Background information on the three diseases:
While notable progresses have been made against HIV, tuberculosis and malaria, the battle is not over. It is critical to accelerate the fight now in order to consolidate progress. Business as usual would not be enough to beat the three major killers.
For HIV/AIDS, there is broad agreement on the necessity to fast-track the response, and an additional $7 billion a year is needed in order to implement proven strategies. For regions lagging behind such as West and Central Africa to stand a chance of catching up and tripling the initiation of people on treatment, support from the Global Fund will be key.
Tuberculosis is an old, curable disease that is increasingly and worryingly changing into resistant strains. New treatments for resistant TB reach only 2% of those in need. There is currently an astonishing discrepancy between the ambitious stated goals and the slow implementation of an effective response.
Malaria still causes half a million deaths every year and despite overall progress some vulnerable countries are still shouldering a disproportionately high human toll. Emerging drug resistance is threatening gains made and demands increased investments.
