US defunding puts fight against AIDS, TB and malaria in jeopardy

Minister of state for international development Neale Richmond (left) with Executive Director of the Global Fund Peter Sands. Ireland has donated over €339m to the fund since 2001.

Progress in tackling TB and other killer infectious diseases could be at risk as America and smaller donors pull back their supports, the Global Fund executive director has warned.

The fund, supported by Ireland and other EU countries as well as the Gates Foundation and private donors, spends around $5bn annually tackling AIDS, TB and malaria in over 120 countries.