#BillsLetter.

In his annual public letter released this week, Bill Gates highlighted some of the greatest challenges facing humanity – fighting HIV/AIDS, eradicating polio, preventing infant deaths and agricultural development — and how innovation is the key to overcoming them. 

He discusses the AIDS community's focus on prevention and treatment while work for a cure continues.  Mr. Gates explains there are many ways to prevent new infections. One key approach that works well is using treatment as prevention — in other words, giving people living with HIV/AIDS early access to anti-retroviral treatment (ARVs), which has been found to greatly reduce the chance of transferring infection.  The 2015 goal of eliminating mother-to-child transmission by 2015 is part of this approach — by providing proper treatment to HIV+ mothers during their pregnancy and breast-feeding, the chance of transmission can drop to 2%. The global health community's goal of reaching 90% of HIV+ mothers by 2015 would result in the virtual elimination of mother-to-child transmission, and the first AIDS Free Generation being born in the 30 years since AIDS was first diagnosed.  

In his letter Mr. Gates also highlights the amazing progress made in scaling up treatment, thanks mostly to the Global Fund and the U.S. program PEPFAR.  Mr. Gates writes, "More than 6.6 million people are alive today because they are taking ARV drugs. Ten years ago it looked as if almost all of these people would die because the drugs were available only in rich countries."  Mr. Gates highlights in his letter the extraordinary work of the Global Fund, citing that between 2008 and 2010, the Fund disbursed $8 billion to fund AIDS, TB, and Malaria.  In addition to supporting programs that have provided ARV treatment to 3.3 million people, this money has funded 230 million bed-nets and treatment for 8.6 million cases of TB.  

The Gates Foundation is the biggest non-government supporter of the Global Fund, having committed $650 million over the last decade.  In his letter, Mr. Gates said, “I am confident that this is one of the most effective ways we invest our money every year, and I always urge other funders to join us in getting so much bang for our buck."  

The Global Fund is rigorous in its commitment to transparency and efficiency.  Mr. Gates states in his letter, “The Global Fund does a lot to make sure its money is spent efficiently. Given the places where the Global Fund works, it is not surprising that some of the money was diverted for corrupt purposes. However, the Global Fund found these problems itself and changed the way it handled training grants, where most of the problems were … In fact, less than 5 percent of Global Fund money was misused, and with the new procedures in place that percentage will be even lower.”  

This week at the World Economic Forum in Davos, the Gates Foundation committed an additional $750 million to the Global Fund.  We are all humbled by the Foundation's generosity, inspired by their commitment to the Global Fund, and honored to work alongside them in this fight.  

Read Mr. Gates’ annual letter here.  

Munkashaf Aiyubi @ (RED)

ⁱ UNAIDS. OUTLOOK 30. June 2011.