February 19, Wednesday Johannesburg: In a landmark collaboration underscoring their unwavering commitment to global health, South Africa and the United Kingdom have announced they will co-host the Eighth Replenishment of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis In a landmark collaboration underscoring their unwavering commitment to global health security.
This announcement comes in advance of the G20 First Foreign Ministers Meeting in Johannesburg and reinforces the G20’s themes of solidarity, equality, and sustainable development. The GlobalFund’s recently released Eight Replenishment Investment Case outlines an ambitious agenda with an $18 billion investment. The goal of the meeting is to save 23 million lives between 2027 and 2029, reduce mortality from these diseases by 645 compared to 2023 levels, and prevent approximately 400 million new infections.
South Africa’s President, Cyril Ramaphosa, emphasized the significance of this collaboration, stating, “The fight for global health is one we must undertake together.” He highlighted that the partnership with the Global Fund has been instrumental in saving lives and bolstering health systems across the nation and the continent. Co-hosting the Replenishment aligns with South Africa’s G20 leadership, focusing on health investment as a cornerstone for solidarity and sustainable development.
The United Kingdom, a founding member and one of the largest donors to the Global Fund since its inception in 2002, reaffirmed its dedication to global health through this co-hosting endeavor. Foreign Secretary David Lammy remarked, “The UK remains firmly committed to tackling global health challenges, not only because it is the right thing to do, but also because it will help us deliver on our Plan for Change in the UK by supporting global stability and growth.” This statement underscores the UK’s belief in the intrinsic link between global health initiatives and domestic well-being.
Peter Sands, Executive Director of the Global Fund, expressed profound gratitude for this partnership, noting that the collaboration between South Africa and the UK exemplifies the critical role both nations play in promoting health equity and enhancing the capacity to address urgent health needs. He emphasized that sustained investment is essential to combat HIV, TB, and malaria and that global solidarity remains pivotal in tackling pressing health challenges.
The Eighth Replenishment serves as a clarion call to the international community, urging collective action to build upon the progress achieved over the past two decades. The Global Fund’s model, which synergizes local expertise with global resources, has already resulted in a 63% reduction in combined mortality from AIDS, TB, and malaria since 2002. With the proposed investment, the partnership aims to further diminish the death toll from these diseases, projecting a reduction from 2.3 million in 2023 to under 1 million by 2029.
This co-hosting arrangement between South Africa and the United Kingdom not only reinforces their dedication to eradicating these devastating diseases but also exemplifies a unified approach to fostering a healthier, more equitable global society.
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