Washington, D.C. — Friends applauds the Obama Administration’s strong commitment to global health in its budget request for Fiscal Year (FY) 2017, released yesterday, which includes $1.35 billion for the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria.
The budget also includes $4.32 billion for the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR); $745 million for the President’s Malaria Initiative (PMI), plus an additional $129 million redirected from remaining Ebola emergency funding; and $191 million in funding for bilateral programs that fight tuberculosis. The Global Fund and U.S. bilateral programs work collaboratively worldwide and rely on each other for mutual success – making steady funding for all critical to defeating the three epidemics.
“We are privileged to call the United States our partner in efforts to end HIV, tuberculosis and malaria as epidemics,” said Mark Dybul, Executive Director of the Global Fund. “The United States has shown extremely strong leadership and continues to rally support from countries and partners worldwide to reach our common goals.”
Robust U.S. contributions have contributed directly to saving millions of lives from the scourges of HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria. Following President Obama’s call for additional malaria support in his Jan. 12 State of the Union address, the budget proposes an increase of $200 million (30 percent) for malaria above the FY 2016 enacted level.
“We commend the Administration for continuing the United States’ strong legacy of leadership in global health,” said Deborah Derrick, President of Friends of the Global Fight. “The U.S. government has helped to create the unprecedented opportunity we have to end the epidemics of HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria within our lifetimes.”
Friends of the Global Fight looks forward to working with the Administration and Congress to maximize contributions to the Global Fund’s Fifth Voluntary Replenishment Conference this fall, at which donors from across the globe will pledge contributions to the continuing fight against HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria.