The past two years have been the truest testament to the resilience and the unwavering determination of communities and civil society living with, affected by and/or vulnerable to HIV, Tuberculosis (TB) and Malaria across the world.

COVID-19 adversely impacted all, but especially key and vulnerable populations – including men who have sex with men, transgender people, sex workers, people who use drugs, young people, migrants, prisoners, indigenous people, internally displaced populations, and the poor; and knocked us further off course from the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) targets of ending the three epidemics by 2030.

Yet, despite COVID-19 induced curfews and lockdowns, communities and civil society partners ensured lifesaving HIV, TB and malaria testing, treatment, prevention, care and support services were not disrupted and reached those most in need.

We saw that in extraordinary times of challenges and uncertainties, communities and civil society stepped up in unison and in solidarity and through their leadership, emergency responses lessened the shockwave of COVID-19 for the most vulnerable and marginalised.

With the support of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (Global Fund), our communities and civil society partners have been working relentless so that we bounce back better and stronger in the face of the worst health crisis of the modern world.

The Global Fund Partnership has proved over the past 20 years, that the deadliest diseases can be beaten, and lives can be saved.

For the Seventh Replenishment of the Global Fund, we must #MeetTheTarget of at least $18 billion for us to be able to #GetBackOnTrack to end HIV, TB and malaria as epidemics; achieve the health related SDGs; and prepare better for future pandemics!

Towards a post-COVID-19 landscape, this will be through increased investments in the Global Fund to ensure the continued delivery of vital HIV, TB and malaria health services to those in need, build sustainable and resilient systems for health and communities systems, withstand current epidemics and prepare for future pandemics through rights-based, gender transformative and people-centred approaches.

And we are ready as communities and civil society to stand alongside donors and implementers collectively as #TheBeatContinues to #FightForWhatCounts because…