The Indonesian government has contributed US$15.5 million to the global effort to eradicate tuberculosis, malaria and HIV/AIDS under the auspices of the Global Fund.

Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin said in a statement that money contributed to the effort came from the state budget as well as funding by the private sector. The move was the first for Indonesia to become a contributor to the initiative.

"Today we take a major step forward because for the first time we are not only the recipient but also a donor to the program," Budi said in the Global Fund’s Seventh Replenishment Conference in New York, the United States.

Budi said that the Indonesian government earmarked $10 million for the effort while another $5.5 million came from private entities such as Sinarmas, Kalbe as well as charitable foundations like Tanoto and Paloma.

The Global Fund is a worldwide movement aimed at defeating tuberculosis, malaria and HIV/AIDS. The organization raises and invests $4 billion a year to fight the deadliest infectious diseases and strengthen health systems in more than 100 countries.

This year, the US-hosted pledging conference for the Global Fund to Fight tuberculosis, malaria and HIV/AIDS has raised more than $14.25 billion so far for the partnership’s work over the next three years.

Source:
courtesy of THE JAKARTA POST

by News Desk (The Jakarta Post)

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