In implementation of the directives of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, and His Royal Highness Prince Muhammad bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister – may God protect them – the Saudi Fund for Development signed today, Friday, a generous multi-year grant agreement A value of $39 million provided by the Kingdom through the Saudi Fund for Development for the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria.
The grant contributes to supporting the fight to reduce the spread of global epidemics and to strengthen health and community systems.
The Kingdom’s efforts in combating infectious diseases
The signing ceremony took place at the headquarters of the Global Fund in Geneva, where the agreement was signed by the CEO of the Saudi Fund for Development, Sultan Al-Murshid, with the Executive Director of the Global Fund, Peter Sands, in the presence of the Permanent Representative of the Kingdom to the United Nations and international organizations in Geneva, Ambassador Abdul Mohsen bin Khathila, along with a number of officials from both sides. .
The announcement of the agreement came during the seventh meeting to replenish the resources of the Global Fund, which witnessed a significant increase of 30% over the previous conference, which strengthens the Kingdom’s position, which ranks 19th among the donor countries to the Global Fund.
Thus, the Kingdom continues to provide the necessary financing for the resources and tools to combat these infectious diseases, as an extension of what the Kingdom has provided to the Global Fund, as the support provided to it since its establishment, with the agreement signed today, amounted to 162 million dollars.
Kingdom’s contributions globally
This year also marks the twentieth anniversary of the partnership between the Global Fund and the Saudi Fund for Development, which has been the main channel for Saudi contributions to the Global Fund since 2003.
Over the past 20 years, the Global Fund has worked to combat the world’s three deadliest epidemics: AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria.
-The programs supported by the Global Fund have contributed to saving about 50 million lives around the world since 2002, as well as reducing the number of deaths from the three diseases by more than half, which is evidence that global commitment limits the spread of these infectious diseases.
-Leading role in commitment to support
The Kingdom embodies a leading role in its commitment to support it, and the grant is a clear step in the long-term partnership between the two organizations and a testament to their shared commitment to eradicating infectious diseases around the world.
On this occasion, the Executive Director of the Global Fund stated: We are grateful to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for its generous support over the past twenty years, and today’s agreement comes in support of the Global Fund by continuing to fund and support programs that aim to enhance prevention and provide treatment and care for people with AIDS. tuberculosis and malaria in more than 100 countries around the world. This agreement demonstrates the critical importance of our partnership with the Saudi Fund for Development and paves the way for further cooperation in the coming years.
For his part, the CEO of the Saudi Fund for Development stressed the importance of development partnership in order to limit the spread of infectious diseases.
He said during the signing ceremony: Our goal today is extremely important and came at the right time, given the health challenges the world is currently facing, especially after the Corona (Covid-19) pandemic, and these circumstances necessitate the necessity of a strong and flexible global health system, and in response to these challenges, it The Kingdom and its wise leadership are committed to supporting global health initiatives and advancing fair and long-term development while protecting human health.
He added: By combating infectious diseases such as AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria, we aim to help improve the lives of countless individuals, families and communities.
It is noteworthy that in 2021, the Kingdom ranked first among donor countries in providing official development assistance to low- and middle-income countries, according to data published by the Development Assistance Committee of the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).
