Further significant declines in TB prevalence and mortality can be achieved if we go on scaling up interventions at the pace set in recent years. We can also contain the growing threat of multidrug-resistant TB. Decisions that leaders make in 2010 will be critical for building on gains we have already made.

"On the move against tuberculosis, innovate to accelerate action," this year's theme for world TB day, is highly relevant.

This year is a particularly important one for tuberculosis - marking the final stretch in the road to achieving the Millennium Development Goals by 2015. Despite considerable investments and progress by the Global Fund to Fight Aids, Tuberculosis and Malaria and all the partners and other financial and technical organizations, we must find innovative ways to detect and treat all TB cases and to scale up the management of MDR cases.

Through 2009, programs funded by the Global Fund have provided treatment to 6 million people with active TB. The Global Fund has provided nearly two-thirds of the external financing for TB and multidrug-resistant TB (MDR-TB) control efforts in low- and middle income countries. Approved TB proposals total close to US$ 3.2 billion covering 112 countries, contributing nearly half of the projected coverage required to achieve Stop TB Partnership targets for the detection and treatment of new smear-positive TB cases. TB programs supported by the Global Fund have also provided 1.8 million TB/HIV services. In many countries in which the Global Fund supports programs, TB prevalence is falling, as are TB mortality rates.

Such unprecedented progress would not have been possible without the support of donors and partner organizations.

But progress is fragile and 2010 is a key year for donors to decide if the health-related MDGs can be met. In October 2010 the Global Fund will hold its third replenishment session, where governments will make financial pledges for 2011 - 2013, a crucial period that will determine whether the health-related MDGs can be reached by 2015.

In the coming years, continued, substantial increases in long-term financial commitments by donors are needed to consolidate these gains and to reach the MDGs by 2015 and universal coverage of HIV, TB and malaria services.

At an initial Replenishment review meeting to be held in The Hague on 24 March, the Global Fund is presenting three resource scenarios for consideration to donors, each with an indication of the results that could be expected in terms of achievements on the ground at the end of the replenishment period. The different scenarios range from US$ 13 to 20 billion for the three-year period.

This year should inspire extraordinary commitments from the international community to build upon the already substantial achievements made over the past decade.