World leaders are in Kananaskis, Alberta right now for the G7 to discuss the most important global issues of today. Our eyes are glued to our screens to make sure the deadliest diseases facing humankind are on the agenda.
And there’s no better place than this Summit to focus on global health. Why? Twenty-five years ago, leaders came together at the then-G8 Summit to save lives from the grips of AIDS, tuberculosis (TB), and malaria. Did it work? Yes. Is the work over? Absolutely not.
Canada must rise to the moment. We must champion The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria at the G7 – and help the world #WinTheFight.
In the year 2000, the world was in crisis. The much-feared Y2K bug wasn’t an issue, but devastating diseases were. AIDS, TB, and malaria were tearing through communities throughout the world with relentless force, killing millions and pushing families to the brink. Entire generations were being lost to AIDS, children were dying from mosquito bites, and TB continued its quiet assault on the world’s poorest. Even though these diseases were increasingly treatable and preventable, the global response was fragmented and failing.
But at that year’s G8 Summit, world leaders – including Canada – dared to imagine something big.
A bold new solution was born: The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria. By the 2002 G8 in Kananaskis, the Global Fund was up and running. This was an unprecedented partnership between governments, civil society, and the private sector. It placed country leadership and community voices at the centre of its mission. And focused on solutions that work.
The results speak for themselves.
Since it started operations, the Global Fund has saved more than 65 million lives. In countries where the Global Fund operates, the combined death rate from HIV, TB, and malaria has dropped by 61%. The life expectancy gap is narrowing between rich and poor countries. In Zambia, for example, life expectancy increased from 43 years in 2002 to 58 years in 2021. Over two-thirds of that gain is due to fewer people dying from AIDS, TB and malaria.
That’s not just progress. That’s major impact which not only saves lives, but stabilizes economies and regions.
We now stand at a dangerous crossroads. We live in an increasingly chaotic world where:
We cannot let decades of progress unravel.
As Canada holds the G7 presidency again this year, we have a pivotal opportunity to lead the world – just as we did over two decades ago. The Global Fund has launched its Eighth Replenishment with a goal to raise US$ 18 billion. If fully funded, it will:
The numbers are staggering, but so is the opportunity.
At the last Replenishment, Canada stepped up with a historic pledge of CAD$ 1.21 billion – our largest ever global health investment. That money helped get 25 million people on HIV treatment, treated 7.1 million people for TB, and delivered 227 million mosquito nets in just one year.
We must build on this legacy. In a time of rising global health threats and deepening inequality, a bold Canadian pledge to the Eighth Replenishment is more than a financial commitment – it’s a declaration of who we are.
This is not just about fighting three diseases. It’s about standing for equity, protecting human rights, and building a more just and healthy world. It’s about ensuring that communities everywhere – not just in Canada – have access to the care, tools, and hope they need to thrive.
We’ve seen what’s possible when we lead with courage and conviction. Now is the time to do it again.
Help us tell Canada that we have to step up for the Global Fund today.
