Date: June 4, 2009

Time: 17:30 – 19:00

Place: Institute of Tropical Medicine Large Meeting Room

Theme: Global Currents in HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria Control
            ―the Global Fund Today and its Issues

Speaker: Mr. Toshiaki Kobayashi, Deputy Director, Specialized Agencies             Division, Ministry of Foreign Affairs

The creation of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (the “Global Fund,” or GFATM), was proposed by Japan when it hosted the G8 Kyushu-Okinawa Summit in 2000, and was approved the following year during the Genoa Summit, chaired by Italy. The present state of the Global Fund, the issues it confronts, and world currents in HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria control were the topics of Mr. Toshiaki Kobayashi’s presentation. Mr. Kobayashi is in charge of the Global Fund as a member of the International Cooperation Bureau of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and is an Alternate Board Member for the Japanese government, which occupies a seat at the Global Fund’s Board Meeting. The seminar was attended by about 60 persons. Global Fund, Establishment, Activities and Achievements


1. Japan sowed the seeds of the Global Fund

During the 1990s the international community faced a rising need to address HIV/AIDS and other infectious diseases. Infectious disease control became a major item on the agenda, for the first time in summit history, at the G8 Kyushu-Okinawa Summit. This and other developments led to establishment of the Global Fund, a private foundation under Swiss law, in January 2002 in Geneva.

2. Threats posed by the three major infectious diseases

Each year, the three major infectious diseases - HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis (TB) and malaria - kill 5 million people worldwide. It is estimated that 33 million people are currently infected with HIV/AIDS, 2 billion with TB, with newly infected persons increasing in great numbers every year. To those living in developing countries, these three major infectious diseases not only pose serious health issues, they also hamper development and progress, profoundly threatening the concept of “Human Security” advocated especially by Japan.

3. Activities of the Global Fund

The Global Fund itself does not implement programs. It evaluates proposals for controlling the three major diseases (including those for strengthening related protection systems) in developing countries, and provides grant funding. A quarter of the international aid for HIV/AIDS, two-thirds for TB, and three-quarters for malaria are provided by the Global Fund. The Global Fund has approved funding worth 15.1 billion dollars for a total of 740 programs in 140 countries. Looking at the Global Fund’s distribution of funding by disease, about 60 percent goes to HIV/AIDS. By geographic region, about 60 percent goes to Sub-Saharan Africa.

4. Achievements of the Global Fund

The Global Fund’s support has enabled 2 million people to receive antiretroviral treatment, 4.6 million people to receive WHO-recommended TB treatment, and the distribution of 70 million long-lasting insecticidal nets for the prevention of malaria (as of the end of 2008). Support by the Global Fund has thus far saved 3.5 million lives throughout the world.

Conclusion

The Global Fund takes part in the prevention, treatment and care of infectious diseases through international collaboration. The Global Fund’s actions should be carefully watched, since they significantly impact the future course of international health.

Questions from the Audience

Q: The Global Fund is not widely known in Japan. How can you make it better known?

A: Lack of popular interest in infectious diseases may be one reason. I want to improve Fund recognition through seminars, intellectual exchanges and other awareness raising activities. I also think it’s important to more actively recruit Japanese staff for employment with the Global Fund (please refer to the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs).

Q: The Global Fund sets a limit of 11 years, extendable for up to an additional 6 years, for its funding of a particular program. Does it provide any support for treatment after that period expires?

A: It is possible for funding to continue upon reapplication to the Global Fund (as a related program etc.), though not indefinitely.