10th October, 2019
French President Emmanuel Macron on Thursday took the unusual step of singling out a series of countries that he said could contribute more to funding the fight against infectious diseases.
Speaking at a donors’ conference for the Global Fund to Fight Aids, Tuberculosis, and Malaria, Macron said everyone should up their pledges for the coming three-year period by 15 percent.
The fund says that reaching its funding goal of $14 billion could help save 16 million lives and avoid 234 million infections by 2023.
The Global Fund, which is mainly backed by governments but also gets some private funding, recorded pledges of $12.9 billion in its last funding round, held in Canada in 2016.
Macron said France was already on board for a 15 percent increase and he suggested that Japan, Norway, and Australia should also up their contributions.
“I am sure that Japan can reach 15 percent,’’ Macron argued. It would be a game-changer if Japan makes this effort.
“The Gulf states of Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates, which made much smaller contributions if any in 2016, were countries that we have great expectations of,’’ he added.
“I am talking about these countries which, if I’ve understood it right, have resources.’’
Macron said to laughter and applause in the Lyon conference hall, suggesting each could offer $100 million to $150 million.