I'm happy to see that we share the same enthusiasm about the effectiveness of the global fund against AIDS, TB, and malaria, and perhaps share the same concerns around the table about the fact that the global fund could receive more funding and do more really extraordinary miracles in saving lives and protecting against those infections.
The concern is that there will be no further new programs at the current level of funding. That's why the head of UNAIDS has recently declared that there's a need for an emergency funding session for the global fund. But of course we have to salute the fact that an increase was pledged by the Government of Canada. The issue of the cashflow is critical. Pledging is important, but actual money in the bank is what matters at the end of the day.
When we met with the CIDA director general responsible for the payment, he assured us that it would happen before December 31 of the current year. I have not received any further information on whether it has happened or not The website of the global fund is updated only once a month. So we are assured that it should have happened or will be happening in the next few days. We have been following up and have not received confirmation yet. That's where we are.