The Global Fund and the Fight Against HIV/AIDS

Op-Ed

The Global Fund and the Fight Against HIV/AIDS

US Commitment to the Fight Against HIV/AIDS and the Global Fund
Guest post by Representative Barbara Lee (D-CA)

During my time in Congress I've had the opportunity, like many of my colleagues, to witness firsthand the devastation that AIDS has caused in Africa and in the developing world. Over the last five years though, I've also seen the very dramatic impact of our global AIDS programs in actually saving lives. With last week's signing ceremony at the White House of bipartisan landmark legislation to renew and expand the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) for another 5 years, I come to this International AIDS Conference in Mexico City with renewed hope that through PEPFAR and the work of the Global Fund, we will turn the tide against this deadly pandemic.

The US needs a strong bilateral program, and we can be proud of PEPFAR and what it has and will achieve. But we cannot go it alone. The Global Fund is a strong example of how we can leverage US money and collaborate with other nations to achieve our goal of saving lives. The Global Fund is an important complement to our bilateral program, and we must support it. That is why I worked to garner strong support for the Global Fund in the PEPFAR Reauthorization bill. The renewed PEPFAR program allows for a contribution of up to $2 billion in 2009 and additional resources thereafter to sustain the Fund's growth in future years.

As the co-author of the initial legislation which provided the founding framework for the Global Fund, I have always believed in the power and the promise it represents as a true partnership between donor nations and the developing world. That is why I have worked hard to make sure the US is and continues to be the largest contributor to the Fund. I support the Global Fund because it allows each country to determine its own needs and priorities based on broad consultation with government, civil society, the private sector, and those affected by the three diseases. I support the Global Fund because it rewards performance and because of its commitment to be transparent and accountable. The Global Fund has shown impressive results and now stands, alongside the US government's own efforts, as one of the leading forces behind the global fight against AIDS, TB and malaria.

These results are given a human face through a very special project that is at the Conference called Access to Life. Through a partnership between the Global Fund and Magnum Photos, and with the support of Chevron, Access to Life shows us the people whose lives have been changed by the simple fact that they have access to AIDS treatment. It was a privilege for me to speak at the official launch of the exhibit in Washington, DC and again here at the International AIDS Conference. I encourage everyone to visit the exhibit or see it online at theglobalfund.org/accesstolife.

Fighting the global AIDS pandemic through PEPFAR and the Global Fund pays numerous dividends in terms of lives saves and the goodwill it generates towards the United States. It is morally the right thing to do and it is something that US taxpayers should feel proud to support. Working on a grand scale with our partners in the field and the Global Fund, we have strengthened health services in each of the countries where we work and we have touched the lives of countless people - one life at a time, millions of times over. The world needs a strong PEFPAR program and it needs a strong Global Fund. Together, we can make a lifesaving difference to millions of people around the world.

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