GENEVA — The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (the Global Fund) on Wednesday released its annual Results Report, revealing an extraordinary milestone: 70 million lives saved since its inception in 2002.
But the Geneva-based non-governmental organisation locked in the fight against major infectious diseases, noted that chaos has gripped the global aid sector since Donald Trump’s abrupt decision to slash funds when he returned as US president in January.
The Global Fund — which includes Jamaica in the countries it provides millions of United States dollars to in the fight against HIV/AIDS each year — has reported that in less than a quarter century its partnership — driven by country leadership, affected communities and front-line health workers — has slashed the combined death rate from AIDS, tuberculosis (TB) and malaria by 63 per cent and cut the combined incidence rate by 42 per cent.
“This shows that with the right tools, strong partnerships and sustained investment, we can change the course of global health for the better,” said Peter Sands, executive director of the Global Fund.
“But in today’s fast-changing geopolitical environment, there is no room for complacency. The global health community must move faster to reduce fragmentation, eliminate duplication and make it easier for countries to work with us. The Global Fund is committed to bold change—maximising every dollar, responding to countries’ evolving needs, and accelerating the shift to nationally led, nationally financed health systems,” added Sands.
The report demonstrates the high return on investment of the Global Fund partnership, and highlights the continued progress achieved in the fight against the three diseases, with a record number of people on antiretroviral therapy for HIV, a record number of people with TB receiving treatment, and the continued scale-up of malaria prevention efforts.
According to the report, in 2024, 88 per cent of people living with HIV in Global Fund-supported countries knew their status; 79 per cent were on antiretroviral therapy with 74 per cent having a suppressed viral load; 85 per cent of pregnant women living with HIV were on antiretroviral therapy.
“These are the highest levels ever recorded for each of these indicators. Use of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) for HIV prevention has surged, with 1.4 million people in Global Fund-supported countries receiving PrEP in 2024 — a 325 per cent increase from 2023. At the end of 2024, the Global Fund committed to reaching two million people with lenacapavir, a promising injectable for HIV prevention,” the report added.
Since the Global Fund was founded in 2002, the AIDS-related mortality has been cut by 82 per cent and the HIV incidence rate by 73 per cent in the countries where the Global Fund invests.
“But HIV remains a major infectious disease and a significant threat to global health security. In 2024, 630,000 people died of AIDS-related causes, and there were 1.3 million new HIV infections globally — around 3.5 times more than the global target of fewer than 370,000 new infections by 2025,” the report noted.
In was also pointed out in the report that in 2023, treatment coverage for all forms of TB reached 75 per cent in countries where the Global Fund invests — its highest ever level, up from 45 per cent in 2010; 44 per cent of people with drug-resistant TB started treatment.
Of those starting TB treatment, 88 per cent were successfully treated and 91 per cent of people living with HIV who had TB were on antiretroviral therapy.
But TB is still the world’s deadliest infectious disease. It killed an estimated 1.3 million people in 2023, and drug-resistant TB remains a major threat to global health security. Fragile health systems, conflict and economic pressures threaten to reverse the gains made over the past two decades.
In respect to malaria the report pointed out that in 2023, in countries where the Global Fund invests, access to an insecticide-treated net reached 61 per cent, with 53 per cent of people at risk using a mosquito net — the highest levels to date. More than 95 per cent of people with signs and symptoms of malaria were tested.
The report noted that in 2024, the Global Fund invested US$2.7 billion in health systems and disease surveillance in more than 100 countries to help detect, track and contain new outbreaks.
It noted however that these gains are at risk because of declining international funding and interconnected crises, including debt distress, conflict, displacement and the erosion of human rights.
The Global Fund’s Eighth Replenishment — launched in February 2025 with South Africa and the United Kingdom as co-hosts — is now seen as a defining moment for global health.
“A successful replenishment is critical to maintain momentum against AIDS, TB and malaria and prevent a resurgence that could undo decades of progress. Without urgent and focused investment, the human, social and economic toll could be devastating.
“Australia, Luxembourg, Norway, and Spain have already announced early pledges, as have private sector partners, The Children’s Investment Fund Foundation and Takeda. Together, these commitments underscore growing momentum and a global determination to save lives and defeat the world’s deadliest infectious diseases,” the report underscored.
“With a successful replenishment, the Global Fund partnership could help save up to 23 million lives between 2027 and 2029 and reduce the mortality rate from AIDS, TB and malaria by 64 per cent by 2029, compared to 2023 levels, while strengthening health and community systems to fight new outbreaks and accelerate pathways to self-reliance,” the report noted.
