I’m Priscilla Ama Addo from Ghana, a newly elected member of the Communities Delegation to the Global Fund Board and a Communications and Advocacy Trainee with Y+ Global. I had the pleasure of attending my very first Global Fund Board meeting, which took place from November 19–22 in Lilongwe, Malawi.
As a newly elected member of the Communities Delegation to the Global Fund Board, I felt both honoured and a bit overwhelmed stepping into this significant role. I am there to represent young people in their diversity living and affected by HIV, a role that is certainly not easy.
The Global Fund is a remarkable partnership dedicated to eliminating HIV, TB, and malaria—three diseases that continue to threaten lives around the world. Since its inception in 2001, this organisation has put communities at the forefront of its efforts, saving an estimated 65 million lives through increased access to life-saving medications and services. Being part of this journey, advocating for young people with diverse experiences of living and being affected by HIV is a responsibility I take seriously.
Before the official Board meeting, we participated in three days of pre-meetings. These sessions allowed us to engage in crucial discussions to align our thoughts and strategies on key decision points. It highlighted the importance of understanding different perspectives as we prepared for the votes ahead. I had the chance to connect with various representatives, donors, and passionate advocates, all committed to shaping a healthier future for everyone.
Everyone in that room came in with one goal: to make it clear that we can collectively chart a path toward sustaining the gains made in the responses to all three diseases and ending them for good. I know this is a large and what seems like an unrealistic task, but it is not impossible.
To prepare for these discussions, I dove into many documents outlining new policy changes that guide the Board’s operations. I won’t lie; it was challenging! It took numerous readings and plenty of questions to grasp the complexities of the content. But I was determined to understand it fully so I could contribute meaningfully. It was clear that critical decisions regarding funding and sustaining progress in our fight against these diseases were at stake.
[From left to right: Group photo of members of the Communities Delegation to the Global Fund Board; and photo of Bience Gawanas, Vice Chair of the Global Fund, and members of the delegation to the board].
One of the most important takeaways from the meeting was recognising how essential a fully replenished Global Fund is for maintaining and advancing our progress. Unfortunately, the path ahead is fraught with challenges. Competing global priorities—like climate change, rising anti-gender movements, and geopolitical tensions—are threatening our goals for the 8th Replenishment. This might seem daunting, but rather than despairing, it’s a rallying cry for us all to come together. It’s time for communities, civil society, and governments to amplify our voices and advocate for robust funding.
With financial resources tightening, governments must commit to and uphold their co-financing obligations to the Global Fund. Insufficient funding could mean communities affected by HIV, TB, and malaria face even more significant risks, particularly when access to essential services is limited.
As a young person living with HIV and a young woman who understands the lived realities of many who stand beside me, I am reminded of the Global Fund's role in how they are changing lives. My presence on the Communities Delegation Board to the Global Fund matters tremendously. Not only am I representing the communities of young people living with HIV in their diversities, but I also bear the responsibility of engaging young people and amplifying their priorities where it matters most.
An issue I found of great importance was efforts to promote sustainability and transitioning among countries to become self-sufficient. Suppose a country is deemed fit for the transition by the Global Fund. In that case, key and vulnerable populations may face the reality of being left behind in accessing life-saving treatment and services because, in some countries, they are criminalised for being who they are. Legal and social barriers such as criminalisation policies and laws can block access to vital health services, and we must address such issues to ensure that no one is left behind in our quest for health equity.
I’m extremely grateful to the Communities Delegation for guiding me through my first-ever Global Fund Board meeting and for allowing me to raise my voice on behalf of young communities affected by HIV. While the challenges are formidable, we cannot afford to grow weary. With preparations being made for the 8th Replenishment, I look forward to engaging governments, partners and communities in fully replenishing the Global Fund. I also look forward to engaging communities in dialogue on aligning priorities towards ending AIDS as a public health threat by 2030. I am here to represent young people, their voices, and their issues, and that is what I plan to do!