Press release – Friends of the Global Fund Europe
May 16, 2018
(English below)
France strengthens its solidarity with the poorest countries and renews its commitment to the fight against AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria
It will host the Global Fund's donor conference for the first time in 2019.
The Elysée announced today, Wednesday, May 16, that France will host the next Global Fund replenishment conference in 2019. This decision demonstrates France's solidarity with the poorest countries and reinforces its leadership at a crucial moment in the fight against AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria, and for global health.
Les Amis du Fonds Mondial Europe welcomes France's commitment to the Global Fund and its determination to make the fight against AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria one of its priorities in order to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030.
"France has always played a pioneering role in the fight against pandemics, and I am particularly pleased with this early announcement at a crucial moment in the fight against epidemics and the necessary transformation of the global health environment," said Laurent Vigier, President of Friends of the Global Fund Europe and former technical advisor to President Chirac on G8 and multilateral issues. "As the second largest donor to the Global Fund, France is today reaffirming its leadership in the fight against AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria. This conference, which will be held for the first time in France in the same year that it will chair the G7 summit, will be an opportunity to assess the progress we still need to make between now and 2030 to end these epidemics and achieve Sustainable Development Goal No. 3, 'Good Health and Well-being for All,'"continues Laurent Vigier.
Since 2013, stagnating investment in the fight against AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria, and more broadly in global health, has jeopardized the achievement of SDG 3, particularly the target that aims to end the AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria epidemics. It threatens the sustainability of the progress made over the last 15 years and raises fears of a rapid resurgence of the three pandemics.
"The road ahead of us between now and 2030 is probably the most difficult. We cannot be satisfied with the progress made to date in the fight against these three diseases. Not only must we prevent a resurgence of malaria, AIDS, and tuberculosis and continue our efforts to ensure universal access to health and rights, but we must also be more ambitious, effective, and collaborative in our actions to promote global health," says Michèle Barzach, former Minister of Health and Family Affairs and member of the Board of Directors of Friends of the Global Fund Europe.
"By hosting the Global Fund replenishment conference in 2019, France is clearly demonstrating the importance it attaches to international multilateral action and showing its solidarity with the poorest countries, not only to combat the three pandemics, but also more broadly to strengthen health systems, promote human rights and gender equality, and move towards universal health coverage,"adds Laurent Vigier.
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Press contact:
Sophie Baillon:sophiebaillon@afmeurope.org/ +1 44 07 08 66
The mission of theFriends of the Global Fund Europeassociation is to mobilize public and private initiatives in Europe in the fight against AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria and for global health, to raise awareness and recognition of the Global Fund's objectives, actions, and results, and to contribute to increasing its resources.
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Press release – Friends of the Global Fund Europe
May 16, 2018
France bolsters its solidarity with the world’s poorest countries and renews its commitment to fighting AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria.
For the first time, France will host the Global Fund's replenishment conference in 2019.
The French President announced today, Wednesday, May16, that France would host the next replenishment conference of the Global Fund to fight AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria in 2019. This decision confirms France's leadership and its solidarity towards the poorest countries at a crucial moment in the fight against epidemics and global health.
Friends of the Global Fund Europe is delighted by France's commitment to the Global Fund and its determination to include the fight against AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria among its priorities for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030.
“France has always played a pioneering role in the fight against pandemics and I am particularly pleased with this announcement at a crucial moment in the fight against epidemics and the necessary transformation of the global health environment,” said Laurent Vigier, president of Friends of the Global Fund Europe and former technical advisor in charge of the G8 and multilateral issues to President Chirac.“As the second largest donor to the Global Fund, France today reaffirms its leadership in the fight againstAIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria. This conference, which will take place for the first time in France—the same year France chairs the G7 summit—will be an opportunity to take stock of what needs to be done by 2030 in order to put an end to epidemics and achieve Sustainable Development Goal 3,‘Healthy lives and wellbeing for all at all ages,’” continuesLaurent Vigier.
Since 2013, stagnating investments in the fight against the three diseases and more broadly in global health have begun to jeopardize SDG 3, in particular the target which aims at ending the epidemics of AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria by 2030. This flatlining threatens the sustainability of progress made over the last fifteen years and risks a rapid resurgence of the three pandemics.
“The road ahead of us to 2030 is probably the most difficult. We cannot be satisfied with the progress made so far in the fight against these three diseases. Not only must we avoid a resurgence of malaria, AIDS, and tuberculosis and continue our efforts for access to health and rights for all, but we must be more ambitious, effective, and collaborative in our collective actions for global health," emphasizes Michèle Barzach, former French Minister of Health and Family Affairs and board member of Friends of the Global Fund Europe.
“By hosting the Global Fund Replenishment Conference in 2019, France is clearly indicating the importance it attaches to multilateral international action to sustain the efforts of the recipient countries themselves to not only fight the three pandemics, but also more broadly to strengthen health systems, promote human rights and gender equality, and move towards universal health coverage,” adds Laurent Vigier.
Contact:
Sophie Baillon:sophiebaillon@afmeurope.org/ +1 44 07 08 66
Friends of the Global Fund Europe aims to mobilize public and private initiatives in the fight against AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria and for global health in Europe, to publicize and recognize the objectives, actions, and results of the Global Fund, and to contribute to increasing its resources.
