Thank you to the many constituents getting in touch regarding HIV and AIDS worldwide.
The UK is a world leader on this issue, as demonstrated our commitment of £1.4 billion to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB & Malaria. This is our largest commitment to date, and makes us the second largest donor (behind the US) to the current replenishment (2020-22) of the Fund.
Thanks in part to the UK's consistent and generous support, since 2002, the Global Fund has achieved what was once considered impossible. From the peak of the HIV crisis in the late 1990s and early 2000s, annual AIDS-related deaths and new infections have been cut by half. Of the 38 million people living with HIV, 25.4 million are on antiretroviral therapy today – 20.1 million in the countries where the Global Fund invests. I am assured that the UK will continue to support the Global Fund in its vital effort on this issue.
In recognition of the critical role that civil society organisations play in the AIDS response to address inequalities and hold governments to account the UK is also supporting the Robert Carr Fund, of which is was a founding member. The UK has committed £15 million to this Fund since its inception, and I am told that future investments will be announced later this year.
Ministers are also engaged with preparations for the upcoming UN High-Level Meeting on HIV and AIDS.
More broadly, I welcome that the Foreign Secretary has confirmed that investing in global health is one of seven key ODA priorities going forward, on which approximately £1.3 billion will be spent in 2021.
If you would like to discuss this further or any other matter, then please do not hesitate to contact me.
cherilyn.mackrory.mp@parliament.uk
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