
MEET OUR SPEAKERS
Meet and hear from people who have seen and experienced the impact the Global Fund. Each of our speakers are currently or have in the past accessed Global Fund-supported programs and are active advocates in their own communities for prevention, treatment and/or care for one or more of the three diseases. Their stories demonstrate the impact of the Global Fund on people's lives.
ALOYCE PAUL URASSA
Tanzania
“I stand to give my voice to Global Fund due to its commitment to supporting low- and middle-income countries in their efforts to prevent, diagnose and treat malaria, playing a critical role in saving millions of lives and advancing the goal of malaria elimination.”
AMELIE WAMBA
Cameroon
“I am amazed at how diverse the malaria problem is across Africa especially how our socioeconomic and cultural beliefs affect our understanding of malaria and impact our engagement and active participation in malaria eradication.”
DUMI GATSHA
Botswana
"The Global Fund's support in eliminating human rights barriers has not only improved the human rights situation for me and my peers when accessing health services amidst the height of a 1.5 year long COVID-19 related state of emergency and nationwide safe sex commodity shortage - but also triggered a legal petition seeking justice for a police harassment incident I endured last year at a routine road block."
EUDORA OGECHUKWU
Nigeria
"As a young sexual minority with no voice, Global Fund gave me a solid platform and a loud voice to speak about inclusion. The Global Fund also made me understand the phrase 'Identifying the gaps, connecting the dots and leaving no one behind'."
KRYSTAL BIRUNGI
Uganda
“I am just one voice in millions that has benefited from the Global fund work, but that is one voice I am proud to add in advocacy for an organization that is doing so much amazing work in my country and throughout the world.”
MIREMBE JOVIA BIRUNGI
Uganda
“Thanks to the Global Fund for funding ARVs treatment because with proper adherence, a suppressed viral load, and the right attitude, ARVS have helped me live a healthy and productive life, happily married and in a discordant relationship with three healthy HIV-negative children. On behalf of all Ugandan young women living with HIV, I would like to appreciate the Global Fund for giving us the chance to live long, healthy, and meaningful lives and achieving our dreams through the provision of the lifesaving ARVs treatment.”
MIRRIAM BANDA CHISAMBA
Zambia
"My daughter would not be here if not for The Global Fund, “No more lives should succumb to a preventable and treatable disease like Malaria” Equitable and prompt universal access to quality malaria diagnosis, treatment and prevention is what it takes to conquer malaria. All this is being made possible with support from The Global Fund."
OLYA KLYMENKO
Ukraine
“People have the right to support without stigma and condemnation, we are all in need of a change in thinking. By defeating stigma, we will take a huge step towards saving millions of lives, including children, who today are discriminated against because of illness, just like adults."
PRISCILLA AMA ADDO
Ghana
“The Global Fund through its partnership with local civil societies is the reason I stand as a passionate advocate for young people. I am a true example of what it means to invest in young communities in making sustainable efforts towards the elimination of HIV/AIDS."
Leave No One Behind!
What is the GFAN Speakers Bureau?
Our Speakers Bureau is a register of advocates who are committed to sharing the messages to fund the Global Fund, to create policy changes for positive enabling environments and to increase domestic investments in health and to encourage collective engagement in their advocacy to governments and decision-makers.
The principle is that people who have seen the impact of the Global Fund in their lives are the most impactful spokespeople for the Global Fund. Each of our speakers are currently or have in the past accessed Global Fund-supported programs and are active advocates in their own communities for prevention, treatment and/or care for one or more of the three diseases.
As GFAN members are constantly seeking opportunities to solidify and increase either donor funding to the Global Fund Secretariat or domestic funding for HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria, being able to call upon trained spokespeople is a key to the success of their advocacy. We have been providing trained speakers to our members since 2010 (starting with the Here I Am campaign) and with encouraging successes. We offer our partners on-going access to speakers that can provide the voice of affected communities at their events and discussions with decision-makers, the public and media.
Can one of your champions attend my event, speak to the media?
If you’re an organization working on HIV, TB and/or malaria advocacy, we can work with you to see if your request is appropriate for our bureau and which of our speakers can participate. We are also open to general requests from the media.
Get in touch with us here.
Note: we make cost-sharing arrangements with host organizations for all speaker trips