When Bill Gates names a program one of the "most effective" entities the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to support, it is worth noting. More note worth are the 7.7 million lives that were saved in the last 10 years because of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria.

Since its creation in 2002, the Global Fund has dramatically increased resources to fight AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria, three of the world's most devastating diseases. These three diseases have preventative measures and treatments, but the live-saving goods didn't reach the fingers of those grappling at anything just to say alive.

In the case of AIDS, 33 million people in the world suffer from HIV, mostly in developing countries. The fight to save lives against HIV was deemed a development crisis in 2000 by the World Bank because the people who lived outside the developing world were not receiving antiretroviral therapy.By the end of 2010, 3 million of the 5 million people now receiving treatment were helped because of the Global Fund.

An estimated 14 million people are infected with tuberculosis, a disease mostly infecting young adults in their most productive years. Detection plays a vital role in saving the lives of these young members of society. Since the Global Fund has been involved, jumping from 1.3 million people saved in 2008 to 1.7 million in 2010. Of all the total treatments this year, the Global Fund had a hand in 60 percent of all cases.

Malaria, a disease that I have a personal connect with, stalks more than 3.3 billion people. People in 106 countries have to ward of the disease or live with it on a daily basis. Back when I was in Ghana in 2009, my head was spinning as medicine pulsed through my body, riding me of the disease. I was lucky enough to have a doctor and money to buy pills. Sadly, not everyone gets those luxuries. Stats say that In 2009, an estimated 225 million people had malaria, and I was one of them. More insecticide-treated nets have become available along with an increased production of antimalarial drugs. The disease could be banished from the most effected countries is the funded surfaced, but right now, the funding lags behind by 60 percent.

I agree with Gates, not only that the Global Fund is effective, but that there is “no excuse for cutting aid to the world’s poorest." Many travels and college courses have given me a heart for developing countries, and thankfully this is a passion I share with a wealthy man.

In January, Gates continued his support of the Global Fund by donating $750 million. He believes in the organization, even if the funds dipped. Many blame this decrease in the economy, which has caused many countries and organization to back away from funding the Global Fund. Without the cash in the bank, the Global Fund can't grant more money. So, thanks for a wealthy American who wants to see the world survive one disease-suffering victim at a time, the Global Fund can dish out more money to save lives.

To learn more about the Global Fund and its 10th anniversary, check out this video.

Above Image: In l’Auberge de l’Amour Rédempteur clinic, Benin, a child cries out as a health care worker checks the child for any illnesses. This clinic receives benefits from the Global Fund to aid their life-saving work. Copyright: The Global Fund / John Rae