The G8 leaders promised on June 8th an increase in investment in programs to fight AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria, but the $60 billion total will still be only one-third of what the UN says is needed over the next five years. Together, these diseases kill about 16,000 people a day.

Half of the total is a US contribution of $30 billion, but the US was already on course to provide this even before President Bush's announcement last week. The proposal was greeted with great fanfare, yet a closer looks shows it would in fact keep spending at about current levels for the next five years, despite the emergency of drug resistant TB.

"A plan to really defeat AIDS, TB and malaria is still missing, yet that's what we must keep demanding of these leaders," said Dr. Paul Zeitz, Executive Director of the Global AIDS Alliance. "This is not an issue of 'more money is always needed when it comes to poverty.' Rather, the full amount is needed so that we can actually get ahead of these health crises, which pose a threat to everyone."

UN estimates show that $192 billion is needed to address AIDS, TB and malaria during from 2008 to 2012, mostly for HIV/AIDS, plus even more is needed to improve health systems.

"We will have to watch the G8 carefully to see they keep their promises," Zeitz said. "But even if they do keep them, the funding falls far short of what is needed. In addition, their promise to provide this money 'over the coming years' is outrageously vague for something this important."

The declaration reaffirms grant making by the Global Fund at a level of $6 to 8 billion per year. However, each year for the past five years President Bush has proposed a large cut in the US contribution, and the US Congress is on course to provide only two-thirds of what the Fund needs from the US in 2008.

There was a risk that the leaders would fail to recommit themselves to the goal of universal access to HIV/AIDS services for 2010, including AIDS treatment, but in the end they reaffirmed this goal. Still, the world is not at present on course to provide full coverage by 2010.

The G8 acknowledged the need for reproductive and sexual health services, as well as effective programs to end violence against women, as essential parts of the response to AIDS.

"Peaceful protests, massive petitions and concerts again made a difference by putting a spotlight on the imperative of the G8 keeping its promises," said Zeitz. "Without the mobilization, we would not have made the gains that we did." -Global AIDS Alliance