Global Fund raises $13.92 billion to fight AIDS, TB, Malaria

An organization that funds programs to fight AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria raised at least $13.92 billion for the next three years at Global Fund conference, French President Emmanuel Macron said on Thursday.

Macron, who hosted the Global Fund's "replenishment conference" in the French city of Lyon, vowed to keep working to reach the organization's goal of $14 billion in confirmed pledges.

The last Global Fund conference brought in $12.2 billion in 2016. To give a boost toward this year's target, France increased its pledge to $1.42 billion, $60 million more than previously announced, Macron said.

"We are absolutely thrilled," Global Fund Executive Director Peter Sands said at a news conference. "With these resources, we can step up the fight."

A dozen heads of state and government, mostly from African countries, attended the two-day event.

The U.S. Congress approved a commitment to give of $4.68 billion over three years. The United States and France are the Global Fund's biggest public donors.

The donations from governments, philanthropic donors and the private sector will finance health programs in more than 100 countries, the fund said. Major recipients of the fund are Nigeria, Tanzania, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Mozambique and Zimbabwe.

The Global Fund said the money would help save 12 million lives, avert 234 million infections and try to get back on track to end HIV, tuberculosis and malaria as epidemics by 2030.

The organization said the programs it has supported since its creation in 2002 have saved 32 million lives.

Associated Press.