3 partnerships letter of support for GFATM

04 February 2011 - We wish to express our concern about reports recently published by a number of media outlets concerning the misuse of grants financed by the Global Fund, and to express our support for the work of the Fund.

The Global Fund has played a critical role in reaching people across the world with life-saving treatment. Since 2002 programmes supported by the Global Fund have saved 7 million lives, provided AIDS treatment to 3 million people and anti-tuberculosis treatment to 7.7 million people and distributed 160 million insecticide-treated nets for the prevention of malaria.

We applaud the Global Fund's efforts to be as transparent and accountable as possible and want to stress that the organization took rapid corrective measures following the discovery that funds had been misused in four countries.

Like the Global Fund, our three organizations operate on the guiding principle that fraud is unacceptable, particularly when the lives of millions are at stake. We are confident that the Global Fund will continue to apply its "zero tolerance to fraud" approach and we welcome the Global Fund's announcement today that it will strengthen safeguards against misconduct by grantees.

We call on the world's leaders to ensure that the millions of people whose lives are being saved now by Global Fund supported programmes do not suffer because of the wrongdoing of others; and that the critically important work of the Fund continues, giving hope to those whose lives will depend on it in future.

     Dr Awa Coll-Seck, Executive Director, Roll Back Malaria Partnership
     Dr Lucica Ditiu, Executive Secretary, Stop TB Partnership
     Dr Jorge Bermudez, Executive Secretary, UNITAID

View The Global Fund Press Release: The Global Fund announces measures to enhance financial safeguards and strengthen fraud prevention