Today, Salud por Derecho, working alongside the Friends of the Global Fund Europe, organized a breakfast event in Casa America entitled “Spain and the Global Fund to fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria: a successful alliance in saving lives.” Along with other actions that Salud por Derecho is organizing to raise awareness around World AIDS Day, this event specifically sought to launch the results of a survey funded by the Friends of the Global Fund Europe and carried out by CREDOC, “Spanish Society: It’s commitment to international cooperation and the fight against HIV/AIDS.”
Speakers at the event included:
- Ms. Michèle Barzach, the Ex-Minister of Health in France and the President of Friends of the Global Fund
- Mr. Francisco Quesada, Cabinet adviser to the Secretary General for International Development Cooperation.
- Ms. María Beatriz Jurado, Senator and Speaker for the International Development Cooperation Commission- Popular Party
- Ms. Encarnación Linares, Senator and Speaker for the Health and Social Services Commission
- Ms. Sandra Hoibian, CREDOC
- Mr. Jerome Bonnafont, French ambassador
- Ms. Vanessa López, Executive Director of Salud por Derecho
Moreover, representatives from civil society, ambassadors, research centers, foundations, and think tanks were also present.
The goal of the survey was to better understand the state of Spanish public opinion related to international cooperation and global health and specifically related to Spanish society’s commitment to the fight against AIDS.
Some of the most important findings of the survey include:
- The fight against the biggest pandemics (AIDS, malaria, and tuberculosis) was found to be the second priority of development aid, at the same level as guaranteeing primary education and only after the fight against hunger, which was considered the principal objective.
- 47% of the Spanish population believes that the government does not do enough in the fight against AIDS, Malaria and Tuberculosis.
- In response to the question whether they would be willing to pay more taxes if this money was allocated directly to the fight against AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria, 75% responded affirmatively.
- Those who have heard of the Global Fund were more willing to pay taxes destined to the fight against AIDS, TB, and Malaria, and also more willing to opt for coordination of efforts in the fight against the pandemic- 86% compared to the 80% average.
You can take a closer look at a summary of the survey here.
See the full survey here.