News item | 21-09-2022 | 20:32
The Netherlands is making extra money available for the fight against AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria in developing countries. Minister Liesje Schreinemacher (Development Cooperation) announced this on Wednesday in New York during the 7e replenishment conference of the Global Fund, an international fund that raises money to end these epidemics.
The Netherlands will contribute €180 million over the next 3 years. That is € 24 million (15%) more than now. This means a Dutch contribution to the Global Fund of €60 million annually. This makes the Global Fund the largest recipient of Dutch development money in the field of global health.
The government is also increasing the annual contribution to the World Health Organization WHO and UNAIDS. These UN organizations work closely with the Global Fund and support developing countries with the implementation of projects financed by the Global Fund. The Netherlands has been a major donor to the Global Fund from the start and the seventh largest donor in the field of global health.
The corona pandemic has had a negative impact on the fight against HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis in recent years. In the coalition agreement, VVD, D66, CDA and ChristenUnie had already announced that the Netherlands would pay extra attention to the fight against HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis. Partly thanks to this contribution, the minister is shaping the coalition agreement.
The increase in the contribution to the Global Fund is part of the extra resources that the government is deploying for global health. An important part of the Global Fund’s work is to strengthen health systems in countries that receive financial support.