APLMA congratulates Peter Sands on appointment as Global Fund ED

15 November 2017 (Singapore) – The Asia Pacific Leaders Malaria Alliance (APLMA) congratulates Peter Sands on his appointment as Executive Director of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria.

“The appointment of Peter Sands as Executive Director ensures that the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB, and Malaria will have an experienced and credible health advocate as its leader moving forward.” Said Dr Ben Rolfe CEO of APLMA.

“In Asia, the Regional Artemisinin Initiative, a 240 million dollar grant to combat the spread of drug-resistant malaria in the Mekong Subregion, is just one of the key platforms supported by the Global Fund.”

Over the past 15 years, Asia and the Pacific countries reduced the number of malaria cases and associated deaths by almost half. Building on this success, leaders in Asia and the Pacific agreed in 2014 on a historic pledge to eliminate Malaria by 2030. With 21 malaria-endemic countries accounting for approximately 32 million cases of malaria each year and 47,000 associated deaths, Asia and the Pacific carry the second highest burden of the disease outside of Africa.

“We look forward to working with Mr. Sands and the entire team at the Global Fund as we continue towards our goal of an Asia Pacific free of malaria by 2030.” Said Dr Rolfe.