WASHINGTON (December 3, 2013) –  Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper today pledged 650 million Canadian dollars ($611 million) over the next three years to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB and Malaria.  This represents an increase of more than 20 percent over Canada’s previous commitment to the Global Fund.

Christian Paradis, Canadian Minister of International Development and Minister for La Francophonie, also voiced strong support for the Global Fund, saying, “Maternal, newborn and child health is the flagship priority for Canada’s international engagement, and the Global Fund is one of our key partners.”

Tom Hart, North American Director of The ONE Campaign, said:

“Canada has long been a global leader when it comes to improving the lives of women and children in many of the poorest places on earth. It is also at the forefront of the global fight against preventable disease, from the 2010 Muskoka Initiative to today’s announcement regarding the Global Fund.

We applaud Prime Minister Harper, Ministers Baird and Paradis and the Canadian people for their support of the Global Fund. With these new resources, the Fund’s grants will reach even more people affected by AIDS, TB and malaria in the years to come.”

Since its creation in 2002, the Global Fund has supported more than 1,000 programs in more than 140 countries, providing AIDS treatment for 6.1 million people, anti-tuberculosis treatment for 11.2 million people and 360 million insecticide-treated nets for the prevention of malaria. The Global Fund works in close collaboration with other bilateral and multilateral organizations to fight the three diseases and strengthen the health systems in countries.