Global Laser Talk November 2013

Pitching an Op-ed on the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria

Engage: Luwiza Makukula is in the U.S. to thank us for saving her life. She is alive today because of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, and the US is the top contributor.

State the Problem: Few Americans know how things have changed around these three diseases over the past 10 years. They don't know how many lives our investments in the Global Fund have saved.

Inform: Since 2002 the Global Fund has put 5.3 million people on antiretroviral therapy, has treated 11 million cases of deadly TB, and has distributed over 340 million mosquito bednets. The Global Fund saves an estimated 100,000 lives each month.

Call to Action: I would like the people in our community to know more about the Global Fund and pass on Luwiza’s message of thanks. The best way would be an editorial. If not that, would you be open to printing an op-ed written by me that would highlight 3 things?

1. The track record of the Global Fund in saving and improving lives.

2. The feeling of gratitude expressed by Luwiza and others.

3. The opportunity we have to control AIDS, TB, and malaria and why US leadership is critical during the December replenishment conference.