The Swiss government is stepping up support for the fight against infectious diseases and Geneva’s global health expertise by contributing nearly CHF100 million ($102 million) to UN health agencies.

The Federal Council on Wednesday approved a contribution of CHF64 million for the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (Global Fund) for the 2020–22 period and a further CHF30 million for the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) for the 2019–21 period.

Every year, 2.5 million people die of these three infectious diseases, mainly in low- and middle-income countries, the government said in a statement. With this contribution, Switzerland said it aimed to strengthen health systems and help combat poverty while also enhancing Geneva’s position as a centre of excellence on global health.

The government also highlighted the number of pharmaceutical companies and other global health agencies in the country that made it a hub for convening and coordinating efforts to advance the fight against infectious diseases.

As an executive board member of both Geneva-based agencies, Switzerland “brings its experience to bear and advocates for the effective use of resources”, it said.