The article begins by highlighting recent events where key populations (KPs) affected by HIV/AIDS have raised their voices against the negligence of them by governments and global entities, including the United Nations, in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic. These marginalized communities have appealed to The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria (referred to as the Global Fund) to allocate resources to meet their basic survival needs such as food, shelter, and emergency medical care. The KPs comprise of sex workers, transpeople, gay and bisexual men, drug users, and people living with HIV/AIDS.
The Global Fund: An Overview
The Global Fund is an international financial and partnership institution that came into existence in 2000. Its headquarters are established in Geneva, Switzerland. Its primary role involves attracting, leveraging, and investing additional resources to put an end to the globally pervasive health challenges of AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria in alignment with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Innovation and Partnership: The Global Fund’s Approach
The structure of the Global Fund is designed to encourage innovative solutions to global health problems. Its method involves working in collaboration with governments, civil society, technical agencies, and those directly affected by the diseases.
India and The Global Fund: A Shared Commitment
India became a donor for the Global Fund in 2006 and has contributed a total of USD 46.5 million to date. In 2019, India promised USD 22 million to the Global Fund’s Sixth Replenishment for 2020-22. This act serves as a testament to the shared commitment between India and the Global Fund towards eliminating the epidemics of HIV, TB, and malaria.
This report illustrates the pressing need for increased attention and more effective distribution of resources towards marginalized groups severely impacted by global health crises. It emphasizes the importance of structured institutions like The Global Fund and their need to collaborate with governments and other stakeholders. This is imperative in efficiently addressing and managing these global health challenges, thereby fulfilling the Sustainable Development Goals.
Source: TH