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Energy giant backs Asian and African action against malaria, TB and AIDS

1 Feb 2008

Joao Souza

Source: The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (see original article)

One of the world’s leading energy companies has become the first corporation to donate to a new programme from the United Nations-backed Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria. The US Chevron Corporation is making the inaugural commitment to invest US$30 million over three years in Global Fund-supported activities in parts of Asia and Africa.

The Fund’s new Corporate Champions programme, launched on 21 January 2008, has been designed as an integrated platform for public/private partnership, giving companies the opportunity to make a substantial commitment to global health.

“Global companies with large, long-term investments in developing countries understand that fighting disease is a necessary part of their strategic investments”, said Rajat Gupta, board chairman for the fund.

Chevron's present activities in West Africa involve predominantly production and exploration in Nigeria, Angola, The Republic of Congo and Chad. Its current activities in Asia chiefly comprise production in Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, Thailand and China. “AIDS, TB and malaria are critical health threats in many of the communities where we operate around the world”, said Dave O’Reilly, Chevron Chairman and CEO.

So far, programmes supported by the Global Fund – since its creation in 2002 – are reported to have provided two-thirds of the global financing for TB and malaria. They are also responsible for providing TB treatment for 3.3 million people and distributing 46 million insecticide-treated bed nets to prevent the spread of malaria.