On Its Tenth Anniversary, Support for The Global Fund Is Strong in Germany
Laura Ochoa — January 27, 2012 – 12:42 pmJanuary 27, 2012
Today, the leading German opposition parties - SPD and Greens/Alliance90 - issued powerful statements of support for the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB and Malaria to mark its tenth anniversary.
The SPD Party release was co-authored by MP Karin Roth and MP Heidemarie Wieczorek-Zeul, Former Minister for Economic Development and Cooperation. MP Wieczorek-Zeul was MP Dirk Niebel’s predecessor and an instrumental figure in the German government when the Global Fund was launched in 2002. They have called on the German government to double its contribution to the Global Fund to 400m Euros annually.
Their sentiments were echoed by MP Uwe Kekeritz, Chairman of the Subcommittee on Health in Developing Countries for the Greens/Alliance90 Party, who urged the German government to reinstate a separate budget line-item for contributions to the Global Fund.
In response, MP Dirk Niebel, Federal Minister for Economic Cooperation and Development, issued a strong statement of support for the Global Fund, promising to reinvigorate his government’s partnership with this tremendously effective organization.
Statement by the SPD Parliamentary Group for Economic Cooperation and Development
Ten Years of the Global Fund - Successful Work In Danger
In light of the 10th anniversary of the Global Fund for Aids, Tuberculosis and Malaria on January 28th, 2012, the responsible rapporteurs for the SPD parliamentary faction, Karin Roth, and the SPD Member of Parliament, Heidemarie Wieczorek-Zeul, declare:
The SPD parliamentary faction congratulates the Global Fund on its successful work over the past 10 years and requests that the German Federal Government does not only make available - without further preconditions - the 200 million Euro for 2012, but also increases its contribution to 400 million Euro in the coming years. This is exactly what the SPD faction requested during the most recent federal budget discussions in parliament.
10 years ago, the Global Fund for Aids, tuberculosis and malaria was founded under the leadership of the then SPD-led German Federal Government. The Global Fund constitutes the most successful vehicle for the improvement of the health and healthcare situation in disadvantaged countries. It is because of the programs run by the Global Fund that almost 8 million lives have been saved and 3.3 million people have gained access to HIV treatments. Additionally, 8.6 million cases of tuberculosis were treated, and 230 million insecticide-treated mosquito nets have been distributed.
We are poised to make even more substantial progress in the fight against Aids, tuberculosis and malaria. Yet, this progress is in jeopardy because some donors refuse to pay up. The Global Fund depends on those donors, and they must honor their stated financial commitments.
Federal Minister Niebel opened Pandora’s Box when, shortly after taking office, he moved to cut the previously agreed upon contributions to the Global Fund. Most recently, he slowed down those payments based on allegations of corruption in 2011. And as a result, in the 2012 Federal Budget, the Global Fund is no longer included as a separate line item.
A number of donors have followed this example, reducing their contributions and breaking their stated promises. This has led, for the first time in the Global Fund’s history, to the cancelation of a new round of financing. This means that until 2014, the Global Fund will not be able to undertake new treatment or prevention programs. This is a catastrophe for the poorest of the poor, and a major setback on the path to achieving the Millennium Development Goals.
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Statement by the Greens/Alliance90 Party
Ten years of global HIV / AIDS fund - Congratulations
To mark the tenth anniversary of the Global Fund to Fight HIV / AIDS, Malaria and Tuberculosis (GFATM), Uwe Kekeritz MP, Chairman of the Subcommittee on Health in Developing Countries states the following:
Ten years of global HIV / AIDS Fund has resulted in nearly eight million lives saved in 150 countries. But despite these successes, the Global Fund and its work is at risk. A lack of financial resources means that for the first time in the history of the Fund, a new round of funding had to be canceled and no new programs can be initiated. Donors have a responsibility to change this, especially Germany.
Federal Minister Niebel must be true to his commitments and not question or delay payment at each and every turn. The Global Fund must again have a separate line item in Germany’s Federal Budget. This is particularly true in light of the ongoing and necessary reform process inside the Global Fund, which requires reliable partners at its side and no Niebelesque denial tactics.
It is excellent that the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, are supporting the life-saving work of the Fund through a donation of 750 million U.S. dollars. Yet, it is shameful that some industrial nations have tried to solve their financial problems with cuts in this area. Since the appointment of Dirk Niebel, even Germany has become a completely insecure partner in the fight against HIV / AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis.
In 2002, fewer than 300,000 people in developing and emerging countries had access to antiretroviral therapy, today this number has climbed to over 6.6 million people, thanks to the Global Fund. We wish the Global Fund all the best in addressing these challenges and congratulations on ten years of existence. At the same time, we promise to exert massive pressure on Niebel, so that Germany will again become a reliable partner in the global fight against these insidious diseases.
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Statement by MP Dirk Niebel, Federal Minister for Economic Cooperation and Development, for the tenth anniversary of the Global Fund
Dirk Niebel, Federal Minister for Economic Cooperation and Development, congratulates the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria as it marks its tenth anniversary.
Dirk Niebel: “The Global Fund is making a significant contribution to achieving the Millennium Development Goals - the fight against AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, helping hundreds of thousands of people every year. Yet so far, the inefficient use of resources has limited the Global Fund’s effectiveness. We therefore find ourselves in close dialogue with the Global Fund about a fresh start and overcoming the last year’s crisis of confidence regarding the management of the Global Fund. We have the clear expectation that the reform decisions made at the end of 2011 will be implemented rapidly, completely and on schedule. Only then will the Global Fund be in a position to contribute to the future care of the sick - and only then will the federal government be in a position to continue to cooperate with the Global Fund. With its recent decisions, I see the Global Fund on track.”
Germany is the fourth largest donor to the Global Fund after the U.S., France and Japan. Last year, after substantial allegations of corruption, Federal Minister Dirk Niebel had frozen contributions to the Global Fund. The funds for 2011 were released after the Global Fund had adopted a clear timetable for reform.
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Statement by Beate Figgener, Spokesperson for Die Linke Party
Long-term and secure adequate funding for the Global Fund
“Development Minister Dirk Niebel is not allowed to withhold the much-need resources for the Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria” said MP Niema Movassat, chairman of the Subcommittee on Health indeveloping countries for the Group of the Left, on the occasion of the tenth anniversary of the Global Fund. Movassat further:
“The fund has saved countless lives. The Fund deserves for Niebel to stop holding up its work. Instead of cutting resources for the Fund because of isolated cases of corruption which have been addressed and resolved, the Minister should - given his own proven nepotism - first and foremost clean up in front of his own doorstep. Instead, he continues to discredit himself.
It is long overdue that the federal government ensures long-term, reliable and adequate funding for the Global Fund. The Left Party has for years been calling for a separate budget item for the Global Fund and increased funding from 200 million to 400 million euros a year.”
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Action against AIDS Germany statement on the Global Fund
10 Years Global Fund - a successful fight against HIV/Aids, Tuberculosis and Malaria with an uncertain future?
Ten years ago, only about 250,000 people in poorer countries had access to life-saving HIV / AIDS therapy. By late 2010, the figure had risen to 6.6 million people. One of the main drivers of this positive development is undoubtedly the Global Fund. Its programs have been supplying 3.3 million people with HIV drugs to treat 8.6 million TB cases, and distributed 230 million insecticide-treated mosquito nets. “The success of the Fund is unprecedented and a clear message: It needs to be extended! Instead, however, a abrupt halt is on the horizon, “says Astrid Berner-Rodoreda, spokeswoman for the campaign against AIDS.
The Fund is dependent on donor funding. Those donors - for 2011 through 2013 - have only pledged half of the required funding. “For some of those financial commitments, it is also unclear ,in some cases, if and when those will be honored,” writes Joachim Rueppel, spokesman for the campaign against AIDS. The Fund was already forced to cancel already-initiated rounds of financing, without alternative possibilities for the expansion of its efforts.
This means that no earlier than 2014 will the Fund be in a position to begin additional prevention and treatment programs. “This is a catastrophe for more than 7 million people, still waiting on life-saving HIV treatment,” said Gisela Schneider, member of the Speakers’ Circle for Action Alliance against AIDS. “It was not until June 2011 that the United Nations have agreed on a target to ensure that by 2015 a total of 15 million people will have access to HIV treatment. This is now moving into distant future, “said Schneider. Even Germany is not living up to her responsibilities. Even the financial commitment of € 200 million per year is less than half of the appropriate contribution level. In addition, it is left in the discretion of the minister what will actually be paid out to the Fund.
Action against AIDS and Childrens Help have therefore launched the campaign “Keep the Promise!”. The campaign asks the federal government to consistently support the Global Fund. “In practical terms this means to at least include the annually pledged € 200 million in its own title in the federal budget. By 2013 at the latest, these contributions would have to be increased to the appropriate level, which is at least € 400 million, “said Ruppel. Only then can Germany’s meet its responsibilities for global health.
