AHF Condemns Denmark Move to Cut $20M from its Global Fund Contribution
Funding reduction by former stalwart supporter of the Global Fund to
Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis & Malaria will hurt lifesaving Global Fund
programs; may create snowball effect with other donor countries.
AMSTERDAM–(BUSINESS WIRE)–AIDS
Healthcare Foundation (AHF), the largest global AIDS organization
that currently serves over 492,000 patients around the world, today
condemns plans by the Danish government to cut its contribution to the Global
Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria by nearly $20 million,
curtail bilateral health programs and slash funding for AIDS NGOs.
The extent of the proposed cuts recently came to light when on Oct. 21st,
the Global Fund Advocates Network launched an online petition letter
addressed to the Danish Prime Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen, urging him
to maintain AIDS funding in the 2016 draft budget. Nearly 100 NGOs have
signed on, voicing their opposition to the funding cuts.
According to the reports in the Danish media and a press release by the
Copenhagen-based NGO AIDS-Fondet, cutbacks are the result of the
government efforts to shore up domestic social programs, and focus on
migration and security at the expense of the foreign aid budget.
“Denmark’s reduced contribution could prove disastrous for the Global
Fund, as it gears up for the next round of replenishment in 2016,” said Terri
Ford, Chief of Global Policy & Advocacy for AHF. “Wavering resolve
by one of the stalwart supporters of the Fund could signal the weakening
of resolve in the War on AIDS, right at the time when we need a surge of
political will and funding to finish the job.”
Denmark has traditionally been a strong supporter of the Global Fund,
contributing $321 million since its inception in 2002, nearly three
times as much as Switzerland has donated to the Geneva-based Fund over
the same period of time. In 2014 alone, Denmark’s contribution amounted
to $24 million.
“This proposed cut could cause a snowball effect with dire consequences
for the lives of people with HIV/AIDS in the countries that rely on the
Global Fund to sustain fragile treatment and prevention programs,” added Zoya
Shabarova, European Bureau Chief for AHF. “We urge Denmark to stand
by the lifesaving achievements of the Global Fund as a show of
confidence to other donors, and pledge to maintain or increase its
contribution for the next replenishment round.”
AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF), the largest global AIDS
organization, currently provides medical care and/or services to over
492,000 individuals in 36 countries worldwide in the US, Africa, Latin
America/Caribbean, the Asia/Pacific Region and Eastern Europe. To learn
more about AHF, please visit our website: www.aidshealth.org,
find us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/aidshealth
and follow us on Twitter: @aidshealthcare
and Instagram: @aidshealthcare
Contacts
AIDS Healthcare Foundation
US:
Ged Kenslea, Senior
Director, Communications
+1.323.308.1833 work
+1.323.791.5526
mobile
gedk@aidshealth.org
or
Christopher
Johnson, Associate Director of Communications
+1.323.960.4846
work
+1.310.880.9913 mobile
christopher.johnson@aidshealth.org
or
EUROPE:
Zoya
Shabarova, European Bureau Chief
Mobile: NL: + 31 648 46 2255;
US: + 1 323 217 2869
zoya.shabarova@aidshealth.org
