Global Fund gets new Executive Director

The former United States Global AIDS Coordinator, Dr. Mark R. Dybul, has been appointed the Executive Director of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria.Dr. Dybul is widely credited for creating and leading the President’s Emergency Programme for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), which has been highly effective in helping limit and reverse the growth of HIV infection worldwide.In a statement, the chairman board of Directors, Global Fund, Simon Bland, described, Dybul as a true leader who can take the Global Fund to the next level. “He has a really impressive vision of how to achieve global health goals. He is passionate, energetic and focused,” said Bland.Reacting to the appointment, the Minister of Health, Dr. Agnes Binagwaho, congratulated Dr. Dybul, saying that he was an inspiring choice. “I have believed in his candidacy for this position since the onset, and have great faith in what he can bring to one of global health’s most vital institutions,” she said.“Mark has long understood that global health must fundamentally be about equity and the fulfilment of the human right to health – not simply about addressing infectious diseases in far-off places. He demonstrated time and again that he believes in a person-centred approach to health care delivery and that he knows how to build strong systems that do not leave any among the most vulnerable out of benefits”.“Mark Dybul is a dynamic and effective leader. He brings real knowledge, strategic vision and a commitment to working with partners,” said Mphu Ramatlapeng, former Health Minister of Lesotho and Board Vice-Chair of the Global Fund.According to the Global Fund, Dr. Dybul who played a key role in creating and leading PEPFAR - the largest global health initiative ever undertaken to address a single disease, is a trained a medical doctor with a specialty in immunology and a leading expert on AIDS.He currently co-directs the Global Health Law Program at the O’Neill Institute for National and Global Health Law at Georgetown University, where he is also a Distinguished Scholar.He also serves as a director on numerous executive and advisory boards of health organizations, including Malaria No More, the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation, the Children’s Investment Fund Foundation and the Global Business Coalition for Health.The Global Fund is an international financing institution dedicated to attracting and disbursing resources to prevent and treat HIV and AIDS, TB and malaria. Since its creation in 2002, the Global Fund has approved funding of US$ 22.9 billion for more than 1,000 programmes in 151 countries, including Rwanda. To date, programs supported by the Global Fund have provided AIDS treatment for 3.6 million people, anti-tuberculosis treatment for 9.3 million people and 270 million insecticide-treated nets for the prevention of malaria.