As world leaders prepare to gather in Johannesburg on 21 November 2025 for the Global Fund’s Eighth Replenishment Summit, the Catholic Health Care Association of Southern Africa (CATHCA) and Doctors Without Borders (MSF) are issuing urgent calls for investment in health systems that reach the most marginalised communities.

Faith and community at the centre of care
In a statement shared with the Southern African Catholic Bishops Conference (SACBC) Communication office, CATHCA emphasizes that defeating HIV, tuberculosis (TB), and malaria requires reaching those often left behind.

According to the statement, across Southern Africa, underprivileged populations face severe barriers to care: women giving birth in informal settlements, rural families struggling to access clinics, migrant workers afraid to seek treatment, and miners hiding illnesses due to stigma. Faith-rooted and community-based health initiatives remain vital, building trust and delivering holistic care.

Global funding gaps threaten decades of progress
Meanwhile, in a separate statement shared with the SACBC Communication office, MSF warns that the Global Fund risks falling short of its US$18 billion target for 2027–2029, which would endanger essential programs tackling HIV, TB, and malaria.

It further states that initial pledges from Germany and the UK fall below previous cycles, and if other donors do not commit fully, vulnerable populations will bear the brunt through reduced access to treatment, increased out-of-pocket costs, and delayed adoption of new vaccines and medicines.

Tess Hewett, MSF Health Policy Advisor, urged “the remaining big donors to heed the evidence contained in MSF’s Deadly Gaps Report and commit fully on November 21.” Hewett further stated that “to accelerate progress toward Sustainable Development Goal 3 and end TB, HIV, and malaria as public health threats, the Global Fund needs the full US$18 billion. With the right resources, the Global Fund believes it can save 23 million lives and halve the death toll in just six years.”

A call to action
Both CATHCA and MSF urge governments, donors, and people of goodwill to prioritise community-based, person-centred health care that reaches every corner of Africa and beyond. Investment in faith-rooted and grassroots initiatives ensures sustainable care for the most marginalised — reflecting a commitment to justice, dignity, and human life.

The Global Fund Summit presents a pivotal moment to strengthen health systems, prevent avoidable deaths, and uphold the principle that where you live should not determine whether you live.