Obama pledges up to $5 billion to global infectious-diseases fund

WASHINGTON -- President Barack Obama pledged on Monday to give up to $5 billion to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria over the next three years, saying an "AIDS-free generation" may be within reach.

The pledge represents $1 billion more than the United States committed during the previous round of funding in 2010, when Obama faced criticism for not doing enough and setting a bad example that gave other countries an excuse to limit their donations.

The $5 billion contribution, the amount activists asked for, will be met if other countries commit to giving $10 billion, as per a 1-to-2 funding ratio set by Congress.

"We're making progress," Obama said at a White House event marking World AIDS Day, which was Sunday. "But we're all here today because we know how much work remains to be done."

Britain, Denmark, Sweden, Canada, Germany and France announced separately that they had raised their contributions to the Global Fund, which was created in 2002 to coordinate international efforts to fight infectious disease in low-income countries. It now provides more than 20 percent of resources for HIV treatment and prevention.

The announcements represent a redoubling of global efforts to fight AIDS.

Despite billions spent on research in the 34 years since the virus was recognized, a vaccine has eluded scientists, and efforts to stop the spread of the disease through preventive measures, such as microbial gels, have been unexpectedly challenging. One million Americans are living with AIDS today.

"We will win this battle, but it is not over yet," concluded Obama, who has been under pressure from U.S. lawmakers and activists and public health leaders worldwide to do more to fight the global pandemic.