GENEVA – The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria welcomed an announcement by the Republic of Korea to double its contribution to the Global Fund over the next three years by drawing on the proceeds of a levy on airline tickets.
The Korean Ministry of Health will contribute US$ 6 million to the Global Fund for 2014-16. An additional US $10 million, from a levy on all passengers leaving Korea on international flights, will be paid by the Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs to the Global Fund in five annual installments of $2 million from 2013-17.
“The Republic of Korea is a trend-setter in the use of innovative funding methods to help fight the three diseases,” said Mark Dybul, Executive Director of the Global Fund. “In doubling its contribution, Korea is also leading the way for other G20 countries to follow.”
The 1,000 won (US $0.95) levy, known as the Global Poverty Eradication Tax, was introduced in 2007, primarily to contribute financial resources to fight poverty and disease in impoverished countries.
“I hope that the decision of the Government of the Republic of Korea will help strengthen cooperation between my country and the Global Fund in financing for development in new and innovative ways in our fight against AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria.” said SHIN Dong-ik, Deputy Minister for Multilateral and Global Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Korea.
Korea has contributed US$19 million since it started lending financial support to the Global Fund in 2004, of which US$6 million was pledged for the 2011-13 period.
The country has also committed to more than double its official development assistance by 2015.
Global Fund grants to the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea totaling US$67million have since 2010 funded the diagnosis and treatment of 120,000 cases of TB and the distribution of 710,000 mosquito nets.
#####
The Global Fund is an international financing institution dedicated to attracting and disbursing resources to prevent and treat HIV and AIDS, TB and malaria. The Global Fund promotes partnerships between governments, civil society, the private sector and affected communities, the most effective way to help reach those in need. This innovative approach relies on country ownership and performance-based funding, meaning that people in countries implement their own programs based on their priorities and the Global Fund provides financing where verifiable results are achieved.
Since its creation in 2002, the Global Fund has supported more than 1,000 programs in more than 140 countries, providing AIDS treatment for 5.3 million people, anti-tuberculosis treatment for 11 million people and 340 million insecticide-treated nets for the prevention of malaria. The Global Fund works in close collaboration with other bilateral and multilateral organizations to supplement existing efforts in dealing with the three diseases.
