Sweden, Norway, Finland, Denmark, and Iceland jointly announce $750m for the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria, with $375m unlocked from the USA. This is the next step in the defeat of the three diseases, and RESULTS thanks and congratulates these Nordic countries for their generous contribution.

One of the unexpected outcomes of US President Obama’s visit to Stockholm that began yesterday is that Nordic countries (Sweden, Norway, Finland, Denmark, Iceland) have jointly announced a spectacular $750m in funding for the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria. This is an increase of $150m, which is substantial given the current economic climate.

Why could Obama’s visit have triggered such an announcement? Well, it wasn’t just because he mentioned the fight against the diseases in his opening speech, but because the funds pledged will leverage an additional $375 million from the US. This makes today’s announcement actually total more than $1 billion – a substantial portion of the $15 billion the Global Fund needs.

These five countries deserve great praise for choosing to prioritise such an important institution at a critical time: we are ready to announce the beginning of the end of the three pandemics, by using the most exciting new advances in technology and our knowledge of the diseases. By increasing their investment, the Nordics are telling the world that they want to be a part of the end of Aids, TB, and Malaria, and showing us all how we can make this happen. They have our deepest thanks.