Hello from Friends! Here is a quick look at what's new in our work to fight AIDS, tuberculosis (TB) and malaria in the age of COVID-19.
Friends Welcomes Senate Appropriations Committee Maintenance of U.S. Contribution to the Global Fund
On October 18th, the Senate Appropriations Committee advanced its State, Foreign Operations funding bill for fiscal year 2022. The bill:

  • Maintains funding for the Global Fund at the current fiscal year 2021 level of $1.56 billion, completing the three-year cycle of funding for the Global Fund’s 6th Replenishment.

  • Increases funding for bilateral TB and malaria programs: $81 million for USAID's TB program and $30 million for the President's Malaria Initiative (PMI).

  • Maintains funding for the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) at the current fiscal year 2021 level of $4.37 billion.


“Thank you to Senators Leahy, Shelby, Coons and Graham and the entire Senate Appropriations Committee for your unwavering commitment to ending the AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria epidemics,”- Friends' President and CEO, Chris Collins.
To Save Lives, Confirm Dr. John Nkengasong to Head PEPFAR by World AIDS Day
In a blog posting, Mitchell Warren of AVAC, Chris Collins of Friends of the Global Fight and Charles Lyons of the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation called on the Senate to confirm Dr. John Nkengasong to the Office of Global AIDS Coordinator by World AIDS Day on December 1.
"As the global health community grapples with the devastating impact of COVID-19, steady leadership from PEPFAR is more crucial than ever. With Dr. Nkengasong at the helm, we can accelerate progress in the fight against HIV. while also laying the foundation for effective global pandemic responsiveness that can keep the U.S., and the world, safer for generations to come." 
"What Next? Looking Beyond the Covid-19 Summit"
Peter Sands applauded U.S. leadership in the age of COVID-19, stating, "the Global Fund's ability to play such a significant role in the non-vaccine elements of the COVID-19 response is largely due to the United States' generosity."

On October 12th, CSIS hosted an event focusing on how the world can realistically hit the targets laid out in the framework promoted by the Biden administration’s COVID-19 Summit.
Launch of New Report: Ending Malaria
A new report by Friends of the Global Fight, Malaria No More and the U.N. Foundation's Nothing But Nets highlights six locations – Senegal, Uganda, India, El Salvador, Ethiopia and the Greater Mekong Subregion– where communities have made impressive progress to significantly reduce malaria cases and deaths.
Don't forget to check out our other reports from the ending epidemics series.
Leveraging the HIV Response for Stronger Health Systems and Pandemic Preparedness
Through interviews in six countries – Kenya, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Thailand and Vietnam — we examine how the HIV response contributed to country responses to COVID-19 and broader health systems. 

The HIV response provides opportunities for pursuing ambitious disease-specific targets while advancing progress on broader health goals. The issue brief offers several recommendations for policy makers. 
UPDATE: The Global Fund's Response to COVID-19
With U.S. and other donor support, the Global Fund’s COVID-19 Response Mechanism is strengthening national COVID-19 responses while protecting life-saving AIDS, TB and malaria programs.

Since March 2020, the Global Fund has invested over $4 billion to
support low- and middle-income countries respond to COVID-19 .

Read about the latest impact of these investments in:
🇲🇼Malawi, the 🇵🇭Philippines, 🇳🇬Nigeria, 🇺🇬Uganda and 🇸🇿Eswatini.
How COVID-19 is Affecting AIDS, TB and Malaria
The COVID-19 pandemic is having a serious impact on the most vulnerable communities worldwide and threatens progress on HIV, TB, malaria, vaccination and other areas of health.
AIDS: The Quest to End the COVID-19 and HIV Pandemics (UNAIDS)
Tuberculosis: Tuberculosis Deaths are Rising Again as Covid Pandemic Unravels Years of Progress (Forbes)
Malaria: Using Malaria Resources to Strengthen Health Systems in Burkina Faso (Devex)
We're tracking the intersection of COVID-19 and AIDS, TB and malaria. See regular updates on our website.
Global Health News
  • Tuberculosis Deaths Rise for the First Time in More than a Decade Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic (WHO)

  • A Beacon of Hope Thailand’s Data-Driven Fight Against Drug-Resistant Malaria (USAID)

  • Tuberculosis, Like Covid, Spreads by Breathing, Scientists Report (NYTimes)
Be sure to check www.theglobalfight.org for the latest. Thanks for your support.
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