March 2016

Mar 15, 2016

Switzerland and the Global Fund

Dear aidsfocus readers

Since last year, MMS/aidsfocus.ch has been a part of the Swiss delegation within the Canadian and Australian "constituency" to the Board of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria. We are tasked with bringing in the voices, concerns and wishes of civil society in order to bridge the gap between the donor, meaning Switzerland, and the implementers and final beneficiaries. The Board is the Global Fund's highest body – the aim is to collectively shoulder responsibility and a strong commitment is expected from all those involved.

The more insight I gain into the structures of the Global Fund, the more impressed I become. It is fighting on every level to achieve its vision of a world free from HIV, TB and malaria. The Global Fund has an annual turnover of four billion dollars. But the question constantly arises: is the ambitious goal promoted by the Sustainable Development Goals, and also by the Global Fund, of "Ending AIDS by 2030" now within our grasp? I am sceptical – money alone is not enough... There are many challenges which millions of dollars alone cannot solve. It requires a change in both the thinking and behaviour of the populations and governments in every country which has a high rate of HIV, particularly in respect of human rights, access to universal healthcare and the state's responsibility to enact laws which are non-discriminatory. The credo of "leaving no one behind" is more important than ever.

And this is exactly what the three NGO delegations to the Board of the Global Fund are championing. They tirelessly point out in every instance that access to high-quality preventative measures, treatment and care, and the support of people who are affected by these three diseases, must be ensured, following the principles of equity and human rights.

The topic of the month addresses the current issues concerning the development of the Global Fund and looks at which themes civil society is focussing on. Read more here...

Carine Weiss

Coordinator, aidsfocus.ch

Project Leader, Medicus Mundi Switzerland

cweiss@medicusmundi.ch