September 18, 2023 – The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria says it might not meet its goal of eliminating these three diseases by 2030 as a consequence of climate change, conflict, rising inequality and growing threats to human rights becomes.
“Together, the Global Fund partnership has saved 59 million lives over the past two decades,” Peter Sands, executive director of the Global Fund, said in an announcement Press release that accompanied the discharge of the fund Annual report. “Despite several record-breaking results in 2022, we will not achieve the 2030 targets unless we take extraordinary steps.”
The fund has recovered from the slowdown attributable to the international COVID-19 pandemic, but faces other problems.
Some diseases are spreading as a consequence of climate change, the fund said. Malaria is spreading in highland regions of Africa where it has previously been too cold for mosquitoes that transmit the disease. Floods and cyclones are causing outbreaks in Malawi and Pakistan, amongst other places. Food insecurity and water shortages cause groups to migrate, making them vulnerable to diseases resembling tuberculosis.
Due to the conflict, existing health services are overwhelmed, prevention measures are disrupted and provide chains are collapsing, the fund said.
“In several countries, including Sudan, Ukraine, Afghanistan and Myanmar, the Global Fund partnership must overcome immense challenges to ensure the most vulnerable receive the services they need,” the press release said.
The report listed some positive features. In 2022, HIV prevention services increased by 22% in comparison with 2021 and the number of individuals diagnosed and treated for tuberculosis increased by 26%. The variety of malaria cases treated increased by 11%.
Innovations assist in the fight against these three diseases, says the fund.
A vaginal ring that releases the antiretroviral drug dapivirine is a woman-controlled measure that helps prevent the spread of HIV. In the fight against tuberculosis, recent treatment methods and recent diagnostic tools resembling mobile X-rays and cheaper molecular diagnostics are getting used. The aim is to slow the spread of malaria by utilizing mosquito nets with two energetic ingredients that mix the insecticides pyrethroid and chlorfenapyr.