Global Fund using star power to raise $13B to fight infectious diseases

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau greets Bono, a keynote speaker at Saturday's replenishment conference for the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria.

A global initiative tackling three deadly diseases in developing countries will get a major boost of star-power in Montreal today.

U2 frontman Bono will be speaking as the two-day conference by the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria continues.
The conference is attracting a long list of wealthy donors and decision-makers — from Bill and Melinda Gates to UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon.

Their goal is to raise $13 billion to help save an estimated eight million lives while preventing 300 million new infections buy 2019.

The Canadian government has pledged $785 million to battle the three big infectious diseases.

Ban told the conference on Saturday that the Global Fund has helped to saved the lives of 20 million people since 2002.

"Over the next 15 years we must all work together to achieve the sustainable developing goals," he said.

Gates said the fund will help save the lives of two million people this year alone.

Later Saturday, the Global Citizen concert supporting the cause will be held Montreal's Bell Centre, featuring Usher, Half Moon Run, Metric, Grimes and Charlotte Cardin.​


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