AMSTERDAM--(BUSINESS WIRE)--AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF), the largest global AIDS organization that currently serves over 492,000 patients around the world, today condemns plans by the Danish government to cut its contribution to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria by nearly $20 million, curtail bilateral health programs and slash funding for AIDS NGOs.
The extent of the proposed cuts recently came to light when on Oct. 21st, the Global Fund Advocates Network launched an online petition letter addressed to the Danish Prime Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen, urging him to maintain AIDS funding in the 2016 draft budget. Nearly 100 NGOs have signed on, voicing their opposition to the funding cuts.
According to the reports in the Danish media and a press release by the Copenhagen-based NGO AIDS-Fondet, cutbacks are the result of the government efforts to shore up domestic social programs, and focus on migration and security at the expense of the foreign aid budget.
“Denmark’s reduced contribution could prove disastrous for the Global Fund, as it gears up for the next round of replenishment in 2016,” said Terri Ford, Chief of Global Policy & Advocacy for AHF. “Wavering resolve by one of the stalwart supporters of the Fund could signal the weakening of resolve in the War on AIDS, right at the time when we need a surge of political will and funding to finish the job.”
Denmark has traditionally been a strong supporter of the Global Fund, contributing $321 million since its inception in 2002, nearly three times as much as Switzerland has donated to the Geneva-based Fund over the same period of time. In 2014 alone, Denmark’s contribution amounted to $24 million.
“This proposed cut could cause a snowball effect with dire consequences for the lives of people with HIV/AIDS in the countries that rely on the Global Fund to sustain fragile treatment and prevention programs,” added Zoya Shabarova, European Bureau Chief for AHF. “We urge Denmark to stand by the lifesaving achievements of the Global Fund as a show of confidence to other donors, and pledge to maintain or increase its contribution for the next replenishment round.”
AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF), the largest global AIDS organization, currently provides medical care and/or services to over 492,000 individuals in 36 countries worldwide in the US, Africa, Latin America/Caribbean, the Asia/Pacific Region and Eastern Europe. To learn more about AHF, please visit our website: www.aidshealth.org, find us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/aidshealth and follow us on Twitter: @aidshealthcare and Instagram: @aidshealthcare
