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GENEVA – The Board of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria today approved a new response mechanism to support countries to respond to COVID-19 and mitigate the impact on programs to fight HIV, TB, malaria and systems for health, effectively doubling the amount of available funding to US$1 billion.

The COVID-19 Response Mechanism authorizes funding of up to US$500 million and comes in addition to US$500 million in grant flexibilities that were announced by the Global Fund on 4 March and are already being implemented by 54 countries.

Peter Sands, Executive Director of the Global Fund, stressed the urgency of the situation and called on partners to unite efforts to respond to an unprecedented public health emergency that threatens to derail progress on HIV, TB and malaria, and to overwhelm community and health systems with potentially catastrophic consequences.

“It is absolutely critical to take swift action, both to protect people now and to maintain lifesaving programs to fight HIV, TB and malaria,” Sands said. “We face a monumental challenge, and we have to work together like never before. It is not only the right thing to do, it is also the smart thing to do. We must unite to fight.”

The Global Fund is responding quickly to the COVID-19 pandemic under WHO leadership and in close collaboration with other partners. The COVID-19 Response Mechanism will provide additional support for country responses to the pandemic and continuity in the fight against HIV, TB and malaria through the rapid deployment of funds. It further enables the Global Fund to mobilize additional resources from private and public donors willing to support the most vulnerable countries as they fight COVID-19.

With an initial allocation of US$500 million, the COVID-19 Response Mechanism will leverage the principle of country ownership and allow countries to request funding for control and containment, to mitigate the impact on HIV, TB and malaria and to support systems for health, including laboratory networks, supply chains, and community-led response.

The Board on Thursday also approved temporary flexibilities to address disruptions in supply chain and to program implementation due to COVID-19.

Several Board members stressed the importance of removing human rights and gender barriers to health care, and of the role of communities, as essential to an effective response. As with HIV, TB and malaria, COVID-19 will disproportionately affect the poorest, the most marginalized and the most vulnerable.

Advancing global health security and strengthening local systems for health is central to the Global Fund’s mission to end the world’s three deadliest epidemics – HIV, TB and malaria – and to fight new and emerging diseases like COVID-19.

The Global Fund raises and invests more than US$4 billion a year to support programs to fight AIDS, TB and malaria in more than 100 countries. The infrastructure and capabilities to defeat diseases like AIDS, TB and malaria – medical supply chains, laboratories, community health workers, disease surveillance – are also needed to fight COVID-19.

The Global Fund is responding rapidly and since 4 March has enabled countries to use up to 5% of approved grant funding. US$70 million has been approved across 54 countries and two regional grants, and more funding requests are being considered.

Under WHO guidance, the Global Fund strongly encourages countries to take prompt action to mitigate the potential negative consequences of COVID-19 on existing programs supported by Global Fund grants.

GENEVA, 8 April 2020—UNAIDS: The COVID-19 pandemic, as with other health crises, exposes existing inequalities and disproportionately affects people already criminalized, marginalized and living in financially precarious situations, often outside social protection mechanisms.

During these difficult times, the Global Network of Sex Work Projects (NSWP) and UNAIDS wish to draw attention to the particular hardships and concerns facing sex workers globally and are calling on countries to ensure the respect, protection and fulfilment of sex workers’ human rights.

As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, sex workers all over the world are experiencing hardship, a total loss of income and increased discrimination and harassment. The criminalization of various aspects of sex work in the majority of countries serves to magnify the already precarious situation of sex workers in the informal economy. As sex workers and their clients self-isolate, sex workers are left unprotected, increasingly vulnerable and unable to provide for themselves and their families.

Sex worker-led organizations from all regions are reporting a lack of access to national social protection schemes and exclusion from emergency social protection measures being put in place for other workers, particularly where sex work is criminalized. Whenever and wherever possible, sex workers are responsibly self-isolating in response to governments’ calls. However, when they are excluded from COVID-19 social protection responses, sex workers are faced with putting their safety, their health and their lives at increased risk just to survive.

NSWP and UNAIDS are furthermore concerned at reports of punitive crackdowns against sex workers, resulting in the raiding of homes, compulsory COVID-19 testing, arrest and threatened deportation of migrant sex workers.

UNAIDS calls on countries to take immediate, critical action, grounded in human rights principles, to protect the health and rights of sex workers. Measures should include:

• Access to national social protection schemes for sex workers, including income support schemes.
• An immediate firewall between health services and immigration authorities in order to ensure that migrant sex workers can access health services.
• Emergency financial support for sex workers facing destitution, particularly migrants who are unable to access residency-based financial support.
• An immediate end to evictions and access to appropriate emergency housing for homeless sex workers.
• Stopping raids on sex workers’ homes and sex work premises and ensuring that all measures to protect public health are proportionate.
• An immediate halt to arrests and prosecutions for sex work-related activity, moving away from punitive measures and criminalization towards reaching and serving those most in need.
• An immediate end to the use of criminal law to enforce COVID-19-related restrictions, including forced COVID-19 testing and related prosecutions.
• Automatic extensions on visas due to expire as travel restrictions tighten. Immigration detention systems must support detainees in safe accommodation.
• The engagement of sex worker communities in responses—the meaningful involvement of sex worker-led organizations in emergency public health planning groups.

UNAIDS, as ever, stands ready to support countries in the implementation of the above recommendations

TOKYO – The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria welcomes the Japanese Diet’s passage of the fiscal 2019 supplementary budget and the fiscal 2020 budget, which includes Japan’s contribution of US$476.4 million to the Global Fund in 2020. This is its largest annual contribution to the Global Fund, signalling Japan’s strong leadership in global health, at a time when the world is fighting COVID-19.

The latest contribution is part of Japan’s Sixth Replenishment pledge to the Global Fund. In 2019, Japan announced a pledge of US$840 million to the Global Fund’s Sixth replenishment. Suzuki Keisuke Japan’s State Minister for Foreign Affairs, who led the Japanese delegation and reaffirmed Japan’s commitment at the replenishment conference in Lyon, France in October 2019 said, “Ending three epidemics by 2030 and bringing about successful transition of implementing countries are responsibility not only of the Global Fund but also of the entire global community. The Global Fund has applied an innovative method of co-financing requirement under the principle of country ownership. This is a key element to sustainability and successful transition and should be strengthened in the coming three years.”

Japan supports a new Global Fund initiative that provides flexibility to countries to use up to 5% of approved grants to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic and to ensure continuity of lifesaving programs to fight HIV, TB and malaria. Japan’s leadership in championing Universal Health Coverage foresees a world secure from old as well as emerging pandemics.

“As the world battles the COVID-19 pandemic, it is wonderful to support the Global Fund, which dedicated to helping the vulnerable populations such as people living with HIV, TB and Malaria.” said Honorary Ichiro Aisawa, a member of the House of Representatives in the Diet and Co-Chair of Friends of the Global Fund, Japan Diet Task Force. “Those of us in Japan are pleased that we can contribute to the Global Fund’s effort to fight these diseases while working to strengthen health systems in a way that advances health for all.”

“At this critical time in global health, Japan continues to lead the way in efforts to achieve Universal Health Coverage and promote global health security,” said Peter Sands, Executive Director of the Global Fund. “We are tremendously grateful to the people of Japan and to Prime Minister Abe for this unwavering support.”

Japan has been a strong supporter of the Global Fund from the beginning. Japan introduced infectious diseases to the agenda of the G8 Kyushu-Okinawa Summit in 2000, which paved the way for the Global Fund’s establishment in 2002. The country is Global Fund’s fifth-largest contributor. With support from Japan and other partners, the Global Fund partnership has saved more than 32 million lives around the world.

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The coronavirus pandemic has put the business of risk communication front and center. Every day, it seems, we are getting mixed messages from our leaders, messages that differ in their tone and content depending on who is talking.

In a situation full of unknowns, as with the early days of the Ebola outbreak in West Africa five years ago, sometimes communication is all we have. Good communication lets people know what they should do, how they can protect themselves and others and helps them balance their fears with concrete information they can use.

Here are some communication lessons to keep in mind as the coronavirus interrupts life as we know it. So much has already changed, with the closure of schools, restaurants and gyms, many workers being asked to stay away from the office, the cancellation of major life celebrations such as weddings and graduations and directives to keep our distance from one another. What is key is that we focus on how to help one another navigate the way forward.

1. Build trust: People need information from sources with expertise and they need to hear from trusted public health experts at regular intervals. If incorrect information is shared, experts need to correct the record quickly to ensure that trust is maintained. And when too much time passes between communications, people tend to fill the void with inaccurate information from unreliable sources. Be honest about what you know – and don’t know – in a crisis.
2. Have one set of messages: All spokespeople must be on the same page. This is crucial so that people know exactly what to do to reduce the spread of the virus. Otherwise, people make up their own minds about how to behave – which won’t slow the spread of disease.
3. Counter myths and misinformation: Ignoring rumors and hoping that they dissipate on their own is a poor course of action, especially in a crisis. Create a system to dispel myths and correct the record by sharing the clear, accurate messages that experts have agreed on.
4. Promote action: In an unprecedented crisis, some people just don’t know what to do and why to do it. Being anxious right now is completely normal, but we need to balance that with the ability to act to prevent paralysis. Giving them concrete things to do calms anxiety and promotes a restored sense of control. We’ve already seen some people change social norms, such as avoiding hugs and handshakes upon greeting. Our trusted leaders need to role model this behavior and talk about what else people can do to protect themselves such as vigorous handwashing, avoiding public events and settings and keeping your distance from others, especially older people who are particularly at risk for complications.
5. Be empathetic: We are all in this together and we need communication that reflects this. The unknowns are scary, but helping people understand that they need to take action for the greater good can help foster community.

For more information on the coronavirus:

Compass

CDC

WHO

As I reflect on Dereck Anthony Springer, professional, colleague and former manager, this saying vividly comes to mind:

“Inspiration is sometimes needed to explain what cannot be explained”.

Stigma and discrimination in any form is inexplicable and Dereck’s fight to end it is nothing less than inspiring.

Dereck excited. Dereck stimulated. Dereck inspired. These are merely selected snapshots of his attributes.    I say a snapshot for I am unqualified to provide more, given the rich tapestry that is woven into Dereck Anthony Springer. But even if I were to try, I would not be able to capture more within the stipulated parameters of this medium.

So how and why did he stimulate and how did he excite? A peek at his character traits provides an understanding. Dereck is an Administrator par excellence who poured himself into establishing effective systems for dealing with the regional response to the HIV and AIDS epidemic.

When he took over as Director, he was undaunted by the state of play with respect to the uncertainty of the necessary resources to effectively sustain the response. His resoluteness, combined with his decisiveness, meticulousness, creativity and discipline, are his awesome traits. Passionate about the Partnership’s mission, he was scrupulous and unyielding in meeting deadlines. The intensity and honesty of the consultations with partners and the respect he demonstrated for their views, contributed in no small measure to the consolidation of the partnership in which all stakeholders had a voice in decision making. This was the essence by which he forged the bonds through agreements on the Caribbean Regional Strategic Frameworks, relentless endeavours at resource mobilisation and his passion to place the elimination of stigma and discrimination at the centre of PANCAP’s mission.

Dereck was self-assured and selfless. He undertook to complete whatever was started. In this regard, I recall vividly his work on the stigma and discrimination project proposal, which eventually resulted in the award of funding used for the Justice for All Programme. I remember also his faithfulness to continue the outreach to People Living with HIV and AIDS, through the provision of food and other items to the Food Bank of the National AIDS programme in Guyana and in the latter years, sometimes carrying a significant proportion of the cost of doing so.

His selfless service made him an exemplar among his peers and a person worthy of emulation. His was an undiluted commitment to achieving excellence.  Dedication to work, family, friends and colleagues is a part of who he is.  Never forgetting important occasions such as Valentine’s Day, Christmas and Mother’s Day. People matter to Dereck.

I could think of no fitting way to end this tribute to Dereck but by referring to the late Dr Myles Munroe’s statement in his book,  Purpose and Power of Authority: “True authority is not about having total control by “lording” it over others but about using the gifts you have been given to serve others”.

Dereck has and continues to use his gifts to serve. In the process, he has stimulated. He has inspired, and we who have had the privilege to know him are fortunate.  I salute you Dereck!  A great new chapter!  

I have known Dereck for more than 25 years. We worked together at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) in the early 1990s and then with the Guyana HIV response. In 2016, I joined PANCAP and was privileged to see Dereck in action as he led the Regional response. All that has been said about his leadership attributes is spot on – he is organised, results-driven, strategic, has an eye for detail, builds relationships, nurtured the Partnership and the list of accolades goes on.  However, I am convinced that Dereck’s success in leadership is founded on his deep sense of humanity i.e. the need to reduce the suffering of the less fortunate, making every effort to leave no one behind and ensuring that there is equity in HIV and health care services in the Caribbean.

Dereck’s people-centred approach to leadership, his genuineness in leading from the heart and his empathetic leadership, have made a significant impact on the lives of many people as he worked for an AIDS-Free Caribbean. Confucius, the great Chinese philosopher, said that “to become a leader, you must first become a human being.” Dereck is indeed a great human being and a great leader!

He served People Living with HIV, mentored and nurtured many young persons in the Region, and relentlessly pursued better lives for the vulnerable. He has changed lives in the most meaningful and impactful way. Dereck often shares that, “as Director of PANCAP, you have to live this work every moment, every hour, every day.” He served well.  He was consultative and inclusive, through his transparent and accountable approach. He instilled trust and confidence in the Partnership and he owned and communicated, at every opportunity, his vision for an AIDS-free Caribbean. Mahatma Ghandi said, “the best way to find yourself, is to lose yourself in service to others.” Dereck lost and found himself in service to others. He served!

I thank Dereck for his service to the people of the Region. I thank Dereck for leaving the Partnership stronger than ever, more relevant than ever and more poised than ever to end AIDS in the Caribbean.  In honouring his legacy, it is imperative that we continue to serve our Caribbean people with the same level of distinction as Dereck.

Best wishes, Dereck, as you embark on this new and exciting chapter!