Sir Elton John urges UK and US to fight AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria

NEW YORK, NY – Sir Elton John, Founder of the Elton John AIDS Foundation (EJAF), called on the U.K. government to double its commitment to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria in a recent editorial in The Guardian. He also urged the U.S. government to renew its commitment in an open letter to US Congress.

“We find ourselves with the historic opportunity to create the AIDS free future laid out in the PEPFAR Blueprint; an opportunity that seizes the science and leaves no one behind,” said Sir Elton. “We have made great strides, and with sustained and strategic investment, we can finish the job.”

The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria provides funding to countries for programs that prevent, treat and care for people with HIV and AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria. Since its establishment in 2002, the Global Fund has supported more than 1,000 programs in 151 countries, providing AIDS treatment for 4.2 million people, anti-tuberculosis treatment for 9.7 million people and 310 million insecticide-treated nets for the prevention of malaria.

“I respectfully urge the U.S. Congress to appropriate $1.65 billion for the Global Fund in FY14 as you did in FY13, and to restore the vitally important PEPFAR bilateral program to its FY12 level,” wrote Sir Elton, in his letter to Congress. “I know that while U.S. leadership and leverage in the global fight against AIDS is unique and indispensable, other governments, corporations, foundations (such as my own), multilateral and faith-based institutions, and people from all walks of life must all do their part to end AIDS. Last week I urged my own U.K. Government to double its Global Fund contribution, providing one billion pounds ($1.57b) over the next three years, and hope they will take action. I also commend the governments of South Africa, Namibia and Kenya for increasing their own investments in HIV prevention and treatment and urge other African nations to do the same.”