Administration of Joseph R. Biden, Jr., 2022

September 21, 2022

Well, friends, fellow leadersâBill, thank you for that introductionâyou know, I want to thank you all for being here. Not that you're here because we invited you; you'd be here no matter what. And, Bill, thank you for your incredible leadership and commitment to global health.

And to everyone participating in this conferenceâyou know, to all of youâI want to thank you. Thank you for fighting for what counts. This is all about saving livesâthere's no ambiguity hereâworking with partners to ensure that all communities are healthy and strongâat least have a shot at being healthy and strong; that people everywhere can live in dignity.

It's hard to maintain your dignity when you look at your child and see that they are sick or ill with a disease that you can't control. It's difficult. It shocks you. And it deprives you of your dignity.

That's why the United States is proud to be a founding member of the Global Fund. And over the past 20 years, through our work together, it's estimated that the Global Fund has saved, as you heard before, 50 million lives and dramaticallyâdramatically reduced the death rate of HIV, tuberculosis, and malaria in the countries where it's working.

[*At this point, the President cleared his throat.*] Excuse me.

Today we've seen some historic pledges to keep building on this incredible record: almost

And as I pledged to all of you, the United States will donate $1 billion for every $2 billion committed by the rest of the world.

So that means we're going to work with our partners in Congress to contribute another $6 billion to the Global Fund, bringing the overall global pledge, as of today, to $14 billion.

With these incredible contributions, we've succeeded, through our mutual and continuing commitment, to deliver one of the largest fundraising in global healthâfundraisers in global health history. And these billions are expected to deliver a 31-fold return on investmentâ31-fold return on investment.

And in other words, for every dollar to fight these diseases, we expect $31 in health gains and economic returns, which also advances our progress toward meeting the goal of Sustainable Development Agenda. So let's challenge ourselves to keep going and do even more. It's an investment that will save another 20 million lives, reduce mortality from these diseases another 64 percent in the next 4 years.

It will support frontline health workers, improveâand by the way, they deserve special, special, special thanks for what they've done, especially when it was much more dangerous than it is today. It will improve surveillance capabilities; build stronger, more resilient health supply chains; and increase innovations to reach those most in need. And it's going to help prevent and respond to gender-based violence and advance sexual and reproductive rights and health outcomes for people around the world.

You know, as we work together, the United States will also continue to advance our leadership through our own health investments in PEPFAR, the President's Malaria Initiative, and efforts to fight TBâTB. These investments, working in tandem and further amplifying the work of the Global Fund, have helped turn the HIV/AIDS around and develop the world's first vaccine for malaria.

Here in the United States, where almost 1.2 million people are living with HIV, we're implementing our new National HIV/AIDS Strategy to accelerate and strengthen our national response to the HIV epidemic. We're putting equity at the core of our efforts. We have to ensure that everyoneâno matter who they are, who they love, where they come fromâcan access care and treatment they need, period. And, folksâand that they're treated with the dignity they deserve.

Everyone should be able to lead a healthy, productive, and fulfilling life. That's our goal. So thank you all for stepping up, especially in a challenging global economic environment.

And I ask you to keep it going. Let's finish this fight together. Now is the moment to accelerate our efforts to reduce health inequities and to address barriers to access, including gender and human rights barriers; to build a more inclusive health care systems to leave no one behind; to end AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria for good.

Let's demonstrate our collective power to take on challenges that matter most in people's lives and deliver progress. We have so muchâso much to do, so let's get to work. And thank you all for all you're doing.

God bless you all.

NOTE: The President spoke at 5:03 p.m. at the 583 Park Avenue event space. In his remarks, he referred to and William H. Gates III, founder, technology adviser, and board member, Microsoft Corp., and cochair, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, who introduced the President.

Categories: Addresses and Remarks : Global Fund To Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria, seventh replenishment conference in New York City.

Locations: New York City. Names: Gates, William H., III.

Subjects: Developing countries : Health and medical care, improvement efforts; Diseases : AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria, Global Fund To Fight; HIV/AIDS : Domestic prevention and treatment strategy; New York : President's visits.

DCPD Number: DCPD202200822.