(MENAFNEditorial) In an innovative financing initiative, Dato Sri Dr. Tahir, Chairman of the Tahir Foundation in Indonesia, established a new Indonesia Health Fund with an initial investment of US$40 million from eight Indonesian business leaders in partnership with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria.
Bill Gates, co-chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, took part in a signing ceremony in Jakarta on 5 April with Dr. Tahir and the other philanthropists. The Gates Foundation will match the investment, which is for health programs in Indonesia.
Dr. Tahir, who is Chairman and Chief Executive of the Mayapada Group in Indonesia, previously announced a separate investment of US$65 million, the largest ever made by a private foundation in an emerging economy to the Global Fund
Dr. Nafsiah Mboi, who is Minister of Health of Indonesia and also Chair of the Board of the Global Fund, said the establishment of the Indonesia Health Fund was a significant step toward making Indonesia self-reliant in health funding. She praised the exemplary leadership by private sector investors who partner with the Global Fund as an effective vehicle to reach more people affected by the diseases
"This is an historic example of public philanthropy led by a group of personally dedicated leaders from the business community," Dr. Nafsiah Mboi said at the event. "If we work hard and work together we have the knowledge and skills to defeat AIDS, TB and malaria.
Dr. Nafsiah Mboi specifically thanked Dr. Tahir and Mr. Gates for serving as an example of personal and corporate responsibility and for mobilizing global conscience for action
The eight Indonesian business leaders are: Adrian Bramantyo Musyanif of Samali Hotels and Resorts; Hendro Gondokusumo of PT Intiland Development; Ted Sioeng of the Sioeng Group; Edward Suryadjaya of Ortus Holdings; Benny Tjokrosaputro of PT Hanson International; Anne Patricia Sutanto of PT Pancaprima Ekabrothers; Henry Jaya Gunawan, of PT Gala Bumi Perkasa; and Luntungan Honoris of PT Modernland Realty
Each of them signed a commitment to providing US$5 million, and each agreement was cosigned by Mr. Gates. The goal of the Indonesia Health Fund is to bring along additional private donors
Over the past decade, financing from the Global Fund has supported Indonesia's efforts to treat 1.3 million cases of TB, distribute nearly 9 million insecticide-treated nets to prevent malaria, and provide nearly 30,000 Indonesians with access to HIV treatment. With support from the Global Fund, Indonesia has strengthened its national TB control program, contributing to a significant reduction in TB deaths over the past decade
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