August 18, 2023
Comments by Chris Collins
President & CEO, Friends of the Global Fight Against AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria
HHS Stakeholder Listening Session for the G20 Meeting
August 9, 2023
Thank you for the opportunity to speak today. And thank you for all the Biden Administration has done this year to encourage global dialogues to recognize the continued urgency of working to end epidemics of today – including HIV, TB and malaria – as part of being better prepared for future disease threats.
We were pleased to see language in the G7 communique referencing the global goal to end the epidemics of HIV, TB and malaria as well as language acknowledging the historic outcome of the Global Fund’s 7th replenishment with the encouragement of further pledges in the replenishment cycle.
It was also very good to see language in the latest version of the political declaration for the HLM on pandemic preparedness calling for strengthening “health systems resilience through accelerating efforts to end the global epidemics of HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria, towards pandemic prevention, preparedness and response.”
These are both important acknowledgements of the impact of global efforts on AIDS, TB and malaria and their enormous relevance in global health planning going forward.
But there are also plenty of reasons to be concerned that the global community is failing to fully appreciate the continued urgency of responding to current pandemics and the integral role of these platforms in pandemic preparedness and UHC. Global actors need to be continually reminded that investments in the AIDS, TB and malaria responses are fighting those diseases and achieving real impact and are also advancing other important priorities in global health, including health equity, stronger health systems, preparedness capacity and support for the healthcare workforce.
Recognizing the interconnection of disease-focused investments and broader health is essential for efficient and effective global health planning and is important in maintaining US support for outcomes-oriented global health investments.
Therefore, I urge you to support language in the G20 communique that reaffirms the SDG target of ending the AIDS, TB and malaria epidemics by 2030, the critical role of the Global Fund, and the connection of disease-focused programs on broader health goals.
Thank you for all you are doing. I appreciate you considering my remarks.