Loyce Maturu’s Call to Prime Minister Trudeau for the Seventh Replenishment

Loyce Maturu is a former GFAN Speaker, a youth advocate, and a HIV and Tuberculosis survivor. In 2016, she joined Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in Ottawa when he announced that Canada would host the Global Fund’s Pledging Conference for the Fifth Replenishment, and was again with him on stage during the Pledging Conference in Montréal in September 2016.

Loyce was born with HIV, and diagnosed with TB shortly after losing most of her immediate family to the disease. She was supported in her fight against the two disease by Global Fund programs in Zimbabwe. She not only gained access to treatment, she was connected with peer networks who help her accept her diagnosis and live proudly. She went on to become a fierce youth and Global Health advocate, and works tirelessly in Zimbabwe to bring down the toll of disease on the most vulnerable. You read more of her story here.

Today, she calls on Canada to renew its commitment to end HIV/AIDS, TB and Malaria by pledging at least CAD1.2 billion for the Seventh Replenishment of the Global Fund. Canada has been a leader on global health and a staunch supporter of the Global Fund since its creation 20 years ago; and stepped up its support during the fifth replenishment by hosting the pledging conference. As detailed in the Investment Case for the 7th Replenishment, the impact of COVID-19 over the past two-and-a-half years has, for the first time in 20 years, set us back agains the three diseases. If we are to regain ground and continue our progress, we need donors to pledge at least USD18 billion for the Seventh Replenishment – and civil society, including GFAN, have shown that more is necessary. These funds would allow the Global Fund to save 20 million lives in the next 3 years and put us back on track to meet our Sustainable Development Goal of ending the three diseases as epidemic by 2030. They will also make the world more resilient against emerging threats and new pathogens like COVID-19. The Global Fund estimates that a third of its investments contributes to building the stronger and more resilient health systems that we need to make COVID-19 the last pandemic.

To meet the $18 billion target, donors like Canada need to pledge 30% more than they did during the Sixth Replenishment in 2019. The United States, the largest donor to the Global Fund, were the first to announce a pledge for the Seventh Replenishment, and President Biden has demonstrated his commitment by declaring his intention to pledge $6 billion. However, if other donors do not pledge at least $12 billion, some of that money will be left on the table. 

Below, find the full interview: