In June, GFAN Speaker Maurine Murenga was invited to the United Kingdom by Frontline AIDS and STOPAIDS to advocate to UK Members of Parliament and decision makers to fully fund the Global Fund for the 6th Replenishment.

Maurine spent a day meeting with UK Civil Society partners in Brighton at the Frontline AIDS office, and on 26 June, spoke at a reception hosted by Stephen Doughty MP, Nick Herbert MP, Virendra Sharma MP, and Jeremy Lefroy MP on behalf of the All Party-Parliamentary Groups on HIV and AIDS, Global Tuberculosis and Malaria and Neglected Tropical Diseases: Stepping up the Fight to End AIDS, TB and Malaria: UK Leadership through the Global Fund.

Maurine was able to share her own story with the reception attendees, highlighting the following key messages:

1. Putting a face to UK’s investment in Global Fund.
2. Emphasizing the important role the UK plays in global health and more precisely, the Global Fund.
3. Sharing personal stories to show how the Global Fund has impacted her life, her family and that of her community.
4. Outlining the dangers of not meeting the minimum 14 billion USD 6th Replenishment goal.
5. Assurance that Global Fund is still the best mechanism of funding to fight these three epidemics.

Maurine said that she received a very warm welcome and that:

“The members of parliament were very supportive of UK’s continuing commitment to the Fund. Other key speakers in the MPs reception included Michael Sheen who is an Actor, Charlie Webster a Broadcaster, Peter Sands, Global Fund Executive Director and Rt Hon Rory Stewart MP OBE, Secretary of State for International Development. They all spoke of their experiences with the three epidemics and called for UK government to increase their contribution to the Fund.”

With this type of advocacy, Maurine was able to help ensure an increased pledge from the UK for the Global Fund’s 6th Replenishment. Together we can #GetBackOnTrack. Thank you very much for your continued dedication Maurine, and for sharing your experience with us!

As always, thank you to our Civil Society Partners, STOPAIDS and Frontline AIDS for inviting Maurine to visit the UK, and for being so supportive to her through the trip.