Japan makes significant contribution to Global Fund

Yasutoshi Nishimura, Japan’s Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary, said, “Japan puts priority on human security and supports the Global Fund’s philosophy of country ownership and sustainability. Japan will cooperate closely with the Global Fund to promote the effective investment for achieving Universal Health Coverage making the use of the upcoming occasions of G20 Summit and TICAD 7.”

The contribution of US$339.3 million brings Japan close to fulfilling its Fifth Replenishment pledge of US$800 million, made in May 2016 by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, before hosting the G7 Summit in Ise Shima, Japan. The pledge was an increase of 46 percent compared to Japan’s previous pledge, when measured in Japanese yen, and the largest percentage increase among the public donors.

“We are tremendously grateful to Japan for its unwavering support for the Global Fund,” said Peter Sands, Executive Director of the Global Fund. “Once again, Japan is leading the way in supporting countries to fight against HIV, tuberculosis and malaria, and building resilient and sustainable systems for health as a springboard for universal health coverage.”

Together with partners, the Global Fund has saved 27 million lives since 2002, and the number of people dying from AIDS, TB and malaria in countries where the Global fund invests has been reduced by one-third.

France will convene the Global Fund’s Sixth Replenishment pledging conference in October 2019 in Lyon, France, for the coming three-year period.

“We are delighted that the Japanese government and Japanese citizens have stepped up to help people around the world who are battling these deadly diseases,” said Ichiro Aisawa, a member of the House of Representatives and co-chair of Friends of the Global Fund, Japan (FGFJ), at its 15th anniversary event. “My colleagues on the FGFJ Diet Task Force and I remain strongly committed to ensuring that Japan continues playing a leadership role in helping to achieve the goals of ending the epidemics and advancing health for all.”

Japan is the fifth-largest donor to the Global Fund, contributing more than US$3.45 billion since 2002. At the G8 Summit in Kyushu-Okinawa in 2000, Japan’s leadership in global health was fundamental to the creation of the Global Fund, and in rallying world leaders to combat the deadliest infectious diseases of our times: HIV, TB and malaria.

Japan is a leader in promoting universal health coverage. Together, Japan and the Global Fund have achieved critical gains in expanding access to health services for the world’s most vulnerable and at-risk populations.

Source: Global Fund