Global Fund Says Malaria Can Be Defeated

 GENEVA – The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria said today that new advances in science and implementation have given the global community the opportunity to control malaria and remove it as a threat to global health. 

 

As people in many countries observe World Malaria Day on 25 April, the Global Fund said commitment is needed by all partners in the fight against malaria to expand and intensify efforts, so it can be transformed from a worldwide killer into a manageable and treatable disease.

“We can defeat malaria, if we work together,” said Mark Dybul, Executive Director of the Global Fund. “We have a chance to control it and sharply reduce the number of children who die from it each year. If we don’t act decisively, we will be counting the cost for generations." 

Huge progress has been made against malaria over the past decade, driven by simple scientific advances like mosquito nets treated with insecticide, quicker diagnostic tests and more effective antimalarial drugs. Better implementation, in programs supported by the Global Fund, has led to the distribution of more than 310 million nets, far broader access to rapid diagnostic tests and treatment with artemisinin-based combination therapy.

But these gains could now be in jeopardy. A resurgence of malaria may occur unless increased funding is provided to expand efforts to control the disease. Experts warn that a decline in anti-malarial efforts could quickly allow a return to pre-2000 levels of mortality, when 1.2 million people died from malaria. Today, the total is roughly half that amount.  

Dr. Dybul singled out partners like the Roll Back Malaria Partnership (RBM) and the United Nations Secretary-General's Special Envoy for Financing Health MDGs and for Malaria, Ray Chambers, for their success in raising awareness of the critical need to increase funding.

Earlier this month, the Global Fund announced a target of raising US$15 billion for the 2014-2016 period. When combined with other sources of funding, that will enable global partners to have a transformative effect on AIDS, TB and malaria. 

For malaria, resources would be targeted to achieve universal coverage of insecticide-treated nets and access to effective treatment in the 18 highest-burden countries, where most malaria deaths occur. An additional 200,000 lives could be saved every year than with the funding that is currently available. 

The new funding model recently launched by the Global Fund is expected to achieve greater impact by encouraging ambitious programs and by focusing interventions and financing for specific populations and catchment areas. By reaching highly vulnerable, marginalized and stigmatized groups, including women and girls, sex workers, people who inject drugs, men who have sex with men, people in prison and migrants, more programs will maximize impact while advancing human rights.

The new funding model also strives to align investments in disease programs with national health strategies while strengthening health systems and serving as a platform for promoting the health of a person rather than only combating specific diseases.

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The Global Fund is an international financing institution dedicated to attracting and disbursing resources to prevent and treat HIV and AIDS, TB and malaria. The Global Fund promotes partnerships between governments, civil society, the private sector and affected communities, the most effective way to help reach those in need. This innovative approach relies on country ownership and performance-based funding, meaning that people in countries implement their own programs based on their priorities and the Global Fund provides financing where verifiable results are achieved.

Since its creation in 2002, the Global Fund has supported more than 1,000 programs in 151 countries, providing AIDS treatment for 4.2 million people, anti-tuberculosis treatment for 9.7 million people and 310 million insecticide-treated nets for the prevention of malaria. The Global Fund works in close collaboration with other bilateral and multilateral organizations to supplement existing efforts in dealing with the three diseases.

For more information, please contact:

                                                                                    

ANDREW HURST

Head of Media and Translations

Mobile: +41795616807

E-mail: Andrew.hurst@theglobalfund.org

Information on the work of the Global Fund is available at www.theglobalfund.org

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AHF Applauds WHO Decision to Initiate HIV Treatment Earlier

World Health Organization (WHO) announced today at Treatment as Prevention conference in Vancouver, Canada that it will raise treatment initiation guidelines for HIV-positive individuals from a CD4 count of less than 350 to a count of less than 500.

AHF has strongly advocated for WHO to raise the treatment initiation, knowing it will increase the number of people receiving treatment worldwide, resulting in fewer deaths and a reduction in new infections.

Vancouver, Canada (April 23, 2013) — AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) today applauded the news that theWorld Health Organization (WHO) is set to raise its treatment initiation guidelines for HIV-positive individuals from a CD4 count of less than 350 to less than 500, allowing people to start treatment earlier.

Ahead of the official announcement of new treatment initiation guidelines which will be released in June at the IAS Conference on HIV Pathogenesis, Treatment and Prevention in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, WHO's Treatment and Care coordinator Dr. Meg Doherty offered a preview of the guidelines this morning at Treatment as Prevention workshop in Vancouver, Canada.

“Today’s announcement is a victory for people living with HIV around the globe," said Dr. Penninah Iutung, AHF's Africa Bureau Chief.

According to Doherty, earlier treatment initiation will make 26 million people eligible to receive lifesaving antiretroviral medicine, an increase of 76% from the current 14.8 million.

“Today’s announcement is a victory for people living with HIV around the globe – including Africa,” said Penninah Iutung, M.D. AHF’s Africa Bureau Chief. “WHO’s decision to raise the treatment initiation guidelines removes a major roadblock to lifesaving treatment, as country AIDS programs often look to WHO recommendations when setting policy guidelines. This is a very significant step toward universal access to lifesaving antiretroviral treatment and, treatment-as-prevention.”

“AHF has been vigorously and publicly advocating for WHO to raise the treatment initiation guidelines for many years. We applaud WHO for making this critical—and lifesaving—decision,” said Michael Weinstein, President of AIDS Healthcare Foundation. “It’s now more important than ever that we stop the current retreat from the global AIDS fight and restore U.S funding levels for PEPFAR and the Global Fund – which have been harmed by cuts proposed by the Obama administration. Even flat-lined funding will prevent this important WHO change from having an impact.”

Studies have shown that earlier treatment initiation is associated with better clinical outcomes, lowering morbidity and mortality in patients. Additionally, a recent clinical trial HPTN 052 has shown that people on antiretroviral therapy are 96% less like to pass the infection to a partner. Given this evidence, earlier treatment initiation, if sufficiently implemented, has the potential to significantly reduce the number of new infections.