UNITAIDs mission is to contribute to scaling up access to treatment for HIV/AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis, primarily for people in low-income countries, by leveraging price reductions for quality diagnostics and medicines and accelerating the pace at which these are made available.

UNITAID was launched in 2006 as an innovative mechanism for scaling up access to treatment for HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria. Founded by Brazil, Chile, France, Norway and the UK, today UNITAID has the support of 29 countries as well as the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. UNITAID today supports partner programs in 93 countries worldwide, addressing HIV/AIDS in 49 countries; malaria in 29; and tuberculosis in 72 countries.

In less than three years UNITAID has committed more than 900 million dollars to the diagnosis and treatment of these three diseases, representing a total of over 11 million treatments provided to patients. UNITAID uses a market impact model that drives prices down, by guaranteeing a long-term market for large volumes of drugs and medical tools.

Reduced prices, in turn, help funds go further and help more people. UNITAID's funding model is based on an air ticket solidarity levy. While some of its donors contribute through multi-year budgetary commitments, the air tax provides more than 70% of UNITAID’s funding.

Have a look at UNITAID recent campaign to thank travelers around the world that have given to support its work saving lives: