Kingston: Caribbean Vulnerable Communities (CVC) applauds world leaders and key donors who at the 6th Global Fund Replenishment Conference in Lyon France pledged US$14.02bn to support the fight against HIV, Tuberculosis and Malaria over the period 2020-2022. The amount of US14bn, described as the largest amount ever raised for a multilateral health organization, and the most ambitious target by the Global Fund.
Executive Director CVC, Ivan Cruickshank in welcoming the pledges, noted that this was a significant achievement which augurs well for the global HIV response and in particular for the region. “The HIV response in the Caribbean is at a critical stage and we therefore welcome the commitment of well needed financial support to continue working towards achieving our treatment and prevention targets. The fact that the Global Fund was able to reach its goal shows that world leaders are still committed to eliminating HIV as a public health threat.” he said. He further noted that the Global Fund has contributed significantly to the progress made over the years. “The Global Fund has allowed civil society across the region, including CVC, to play an instrumental role in scaling up implementing programmes which target critical areas of the HIV response. Through this funding we have been able to scale up programmes addressing the most vulnerable populations ,” he added.
Meanwhile our partners Jamaica AIDS Support for Life and Suriname Men United are also welcoming the achievement of the Global Fund. Executive Director of Jamaica AIDS Support for Life, Mrs. Kandasi Levermore noted that the support from the Global Fund has helped to significantly strengthen the organization making it better able to deliver critical HIV services. “With funding from the Global Fund, The Jamaica AIDS Support for Life has been able to expand its services tremendously and thereby reaching more individuals across the island,” she noted.
Executive Director at Suriname Men United (SMU), Kenneth Van Emden, shared a similar view pointing to the fact that SMU has been able to undertake critical work through funding from the Global Fund made possible under CVC’s onward granting process. “Funding for key population organisations is of high importance in meeting the needs of key population affected within the HIV response. The Global Fund’s support to CVC has played an immense role in paving the path for Suriname Men United engaging, serving and most of all creating an enabling environment for Men who have Sex with Men (MSM) and Trans persons in Suriname. The need for ongoing funding is key and we hope that the Global Fund continues to invest in regional organisations like CVC to further cater to the needs of CSO’s working with and for key population members,” he said.
Caribbean Vulnerable Communities Coalition (CVC) is a coalition of community leaders and non-governmental agencies that are advocates and service providers, working with and on behalf of Caribbean populations who are especially vulnerable to HIV infection or often forgotten in access to treatment and healthcare programmes.