LETTER

Supporting global disease control 

In one of the brightest multilateral moves ever, the Global Fund to fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria was created in 2002. It is 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%.

Canada is a founding member and top donor to the Global Fund. Traditionally, we have increased our contribution by 20% at each of the previous five replenishment cycles. Continuing this trend would mean about $200 million over the next three years. But there is a rumour the government is planning to freeze its commitment for this cycle, the only G7 country to do so. 

Our government fails to grasp how high the stakes are for a successful replenishment. The gains in reducing deaths could easily be reversed and a potential 16 million lives lost. On the eve of an election, this is a relatively cheap way for the government to show leadership ... with actions.

Stephen St. Denis, 

Ottawa