Global Fund Celebrates Efforts of Partners Chevron, The Coca-Cola Company, (RED) and PEPFAR at Capitol Hill Event

Public-Private Partnerships Play Integral Role in Worldwide Effort to Provide Access to Lifesaving Prevention, Treatment and Care

WASHINGTON, March 20, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- At a public event today on Capitol Hill, the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria and Friends of the Global Fight Against AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria spotlighted the contributions of public-private partnerships to the Global Fund's lifesaving work. From assistance in drug delivery, to supplying much-needed resources, to mobilizing consumer markets, to in-country partnerships, Chevron, The Coca-Cola Company, (RED) and the U.S. President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), all play unique and essential roles in partnering with the Global Fund to save and improve lives around the globe.

"The Global Fund has achieved tremendous success in just 10 years, thanks to strong bipartisan support from the U.S. government and close partnerships with the private sector," said Natasha Bilimoria, President of Friends of the Global Fight. "Innovative public-private partnerships enable the Global Fund to stretch precious resources as far as possible and to deliver remarkable results. The Global Fund is at the forefront of changing the way the private and public sectors work together. Corporate partners like Chevron, The Coca-Cola Company and (RED) have become integral to the in-country operations and overall success of organizations that provide care and treatment for people in the poorest corners of the world."

The partners highlighted at the Capitol Hill event have not only provided funding, but have also brought their individual expertise to the Global Fund, sharing their knowledge and building bridges between the public, private and health sectors. Chevron, the first company to become a Global Fund Corporate Champion, has invested $30 million for 2008 through 2010 and spearheaded awareness and capacity initiatives furthering the reach and impact of Global Fund grants. Chevron has committed to investing an additional $25 million for 2011 through 2013 to support programs dedicated to fighting HIV/AIDS and reducing mother-to-child transmission of the virus.

Bringing its significant supply chain knowledge to the Government of Tanzania, The Coca-Cola Company, in partnership with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, has shared its business expertise in-country to help in the delivery of lifesaving drugs. The Coca-Cola Company also recently partnered with (RED) to provide more than $5 million over the next four years for the Global Fund; at least $3 million will be given directly to the Global Fund to purchase HIV/AIDS medication and distribute prevention information.

For its part, (RED) has built a strong and innovative partnership with iconic brands, raising awareness and funds that have generated almost $190 million for the Global Fund's HIV/AIDS programs in sub-Saharan Africa.

PEPFAR has made its own tremendous contribution to the fight against HIV/AIDS in the region. In FY2011, the U.S. supported lifesaving antiretroviral treatment for more than 3.9 million people, HIV testing and counseling for more than 9.8 million pregnant women, antiretroviral prophylaxis for more than 660,000 HIV-positive pregnant women, and provided care and support for nearly 13 million people, including more than 4.1 million orphans and vulnerable children. Moreover, PEPFAR and the Global Fund work hand-in-hand in resource-poor countries on care and treatment projects, grant oversight and management, and the purchase of lifesaving drugs.

"Partnerships have been absolutely fundamental to the Global Fund model since its creation," said Dr. Christoph Benn, Director of Resource Mobilization and Donor Relations for the Global Fund. "The Global Fund was created 10 years ago as a unique partnership among governments, civil society, faith groups, the private sector and affected communities. These partnerships are increasingly important as we look for innovative ways to achieve an AIDS-free generation, realize huge progress in the fight against tuberculosis and end deaths from malaria."

Since its founding, the Global Fund has supported programs that have saved the lives of millions of people around the world. Global Fund financing provides AIDS treatment to 3.3 million people, and to date, the Global Fund has supported treatment for more than 8.6 million cases of tuberculosis and distributed 230 million insecticide-treated nets for the prevention of malaria.

In addition to helping to advance the mission of the Global Fund, companies have a crucial stake in improving health worldwide. "Every company relies on healthy employees," said Jonathan Klein, Co-founder and CEO of Getty Images and Chair of the Board of Friends of the Global Fight. "By working to secure the health of employees and their communities, private partners are ensuring the overall health of the global economy and creating a safer, more stable world for all of us."

FRIENDS OF THE GLOBAL FIGHT AGAINST AIDS, TUBERCULOSIS AND MALARIA
Friends of the Global Fight works to end the worldwide burden of AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria. We educate, engage and mobilize U.S. decision makers to support the Global Fund, the world's largest public health financier. For more information about Friends of the Global Fight, visit www.TheGlobalFight.org.

THE GLOBAL FUND TO FIGHT AIDS, TUBERCULOSIS AND MALARIA
The Global Fund is a unique, public-private partnership and international financing institution dedicated to attracting and disbursing additional resources to prevent and treat HIV and AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria. This partnership between governments, civil society, the private sector and affected communities represents an innovative approach to international health financing. The Global Fund's model is based on the concepts of country ownership and performance-based funding, which means that people in countries implement their own programs based on their priorities and the Global Fund provides financing on the condition that verifiable results are achieved.

Since its creation in 2002, the Global Fund has become the main financier of programs to fight AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria, with approved funding of US$ 22.6 billion for more than 1,000 programs in 150 countries (as of December 1, 2011). To date, programs supported by the Global Fund are providing AIDS treatment for 3.3 million people, anti-tuberculosis treatment for 8.6 million people and 230 million insecticide-treated nets for the prevention of malaria. The Global Fund works in close collaboration with other bilateral and multilateral organizations to supplement existing efforts in dealing with the three diseases.

SOURCE Friends of the Global Fight Against AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria