Uniting to Fight AIDS, TB, and Malaria: The Global Fund's Eighth Replenishment

By Hamu Madzedze

Online Health Editor -Zimbabwe

The Global Fund partnership has made remarkable progress in the fight against HIV, tuberculosis (TB) and malaria over the last two decades saving 65 million lives and reducing the combined death rate from AIDS, TB and malaria by 63% since 2002. But interconnected crises threaten those hard-won gains.

"If we don’t respond with the urgency that this moment demands, we risk reversing these lifesaving achievements"

For the Eighth Replenishment, the Global Fund needs US$18 billion to save 23 million lives between 2027 and 2029, reduce the combined mortality rate by another 64%, relative to 2023 levels, and prevent around 400 million infections.

"It took the world 18 years to halve the combined death toll from AIDS, TB and malaria; with the right resources we can more than halve it again in only six years"

Every life lost is one too many, but to be able to reduce the death toll from AIDS, TB and malaria from 2.3 million in 2023 to under 1 million in 2029 would be an immense achievement.

In times of crisis and uncertainty, investing in the Global Fund is one of the most effective ways to improve the livelihoods of millions while strengthening global health security.

Despite the challenges posed by economic stresses, conflict, climate change and the erosion of human rights and gender equality, the Global Fund has continued to make strong progress against HIV, TB and malaria.

"Through our proven model of turning donor dollars into impact at scale, the partnership is bringing the world closer to the Sustainable Development Goal 3 target of ending the three diseases as public health threats"

The Global Fund pointed out that HIV, TB and malaria are formidable adversaries that are quick to punish any dilution of effort. "We cannot allow ourselves to go backwards and to finish the fight, we must sustain our investments and massively increase our focus on innovation and efficiency.

The Global Fund’s Eighth Replenishment is an opportunity to take bold action, investing in an accelerated effort to ensure that future generations can live in a world free from the deadliest infectious diseases. "Together, let’s give it everything, our Investment Case shows how we will stop at nothing to drive impact, save lives and deliver lifesaving tools and resources where they are needed most"

The Global Fund’s Eighth Replenishment is a moment for philanthropists, foundations and companies to make a transformative impact on the world’s deadliest infectious diseases.

With the right resources, and by optimizing the deployment of tools to fight diseases, we can dramatically accelerate progress toward ending AIDS, TB and malaria as public health threats.

A total of US$2 billion of private sector funding would save 2.5 million lives and deliver a return on investment of 1:19, with every dollar invested in fighting HIV, TB and malaria resulting in US$19 in health gains and economic returns.

Progress against HIV, TB and malaria in the world’s poorest countries has led to people living longer, healthier lives.

Across 15 sub-Saharan African countries, life expectancy rose from 49 to 61 years, with over half of the increase due to progress in fighting the three diseases.