LETTER

Helping ourselves by helping others 

In one of the brightest multilateral moves ever, the Global Fund to fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria was created in 2002 to respond to these formidable challenges. It has proven to be an indisputable success story. As of 2017, the Global Fund has saved 27 million lives in targeted countries by being a major player in reducing AIDS-related deaths by 40%, malaria deaths by 42% and TB deaths by 21%.

 

But those hard fought gains could easily be reversed and a potential 16 million lives lost. It is rumoured that the government plans to freeze its commitment for 2020 - 2022, conspicuously the only G7 country to do so.  Britain and Japan, recently announced increased pledges of almost 17 per cent and five per cent respectively. Even the U.S. has passed legislation to increase its pledge by 16% in the first year.  Looking like a laggard is no way to go into an election.

Stephen St. Denis, 

Ottawa