MONTREAL – A global public-private partnership has reached its goal of raising $13 billion from international donors to combat AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said on Saturday.
During an international conference in Montreal, the Global Fund asked government, faith-based and private-sector donors to raise a total of $13 billion over the next three years, starting in 2017.
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The fund, the world’s largest aimed at fighting the three diseases, is credited with saving 20 million lives since it was established in 2002.
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“The impact of AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria is far-reaching, and we know that these diseases disproportionately affect the world’s poorest and most vulnerable, especially women and children.” Trudeau said in a news release.
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“These commitments will save millions of lives,” said Microsoft Corp co-founder Bill Gates, whose foundation donated $600 million to the fund.
The United States, the fund’s largest donor, in August pledged up to $4.3 billion through 2019. The amount is subject to congressional approval.
The three diseases targeted by the fund are believed to kill more than 8,000 people a day. (Reporting by Allison Lampert; Editing by Paul Simao)
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