NEW YORK –The Executive Director of UNFPA, the United Nations Population Fund, Dr. Babatunde Osotimehin, today welcomed the appointment of Ambassador Mark R. Dybul as the new Executive Director of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria.

"I have known Mark for a long time. He is not only one of the key people involved in the fight against HIV/AIDS, but also one of the most talented global health leaders I’ve ever met,” said Dr. Osotimehin. “Being a medical doctor and a researcher, I am confident he will be able to handle his new responsibilities, both as a competent scientific expert and as a strategically minded administrator. His career achievements show us the caliber of his leadership and vision. We are very glad about this new appointment and we look forward to a continued fruitful collaboration between the Global Fund and UNFPA.”

As one of the ten co-sponsors of UNAIDS, UNFPA works closely with the Global Fund to intensify and scale up HIV prevention efforts, using rights-based and evidence-informed strategies, including attention to gender inequalities that add fuel to the HIV/AIDS epidemic.