GLOBAL FUND AIDS, TB, MALARIA
Nigeria and other African countries will only be able to end malaria, HIV and tuberculosis if they invest more in the health sector.

FG To Support Global Fund In Fight Against AIDS, Malaria, TB

Federal government is restating its readiness to support the Global Fund in the eradication of AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria in the country.

The pledge had been made by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, when the team of Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, led by its Senior Fund Portfolio Manager (High Impact Africa), Jean-Thomas Nouboussi, had paid him a courtesy visit in his office.

In a statement from the media office, the SGF, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary, General Services Office, Dr. Nnamdi Maurice Mbaeri, stated that the Federal Government is committed to supporting the organisation toward the attainment of its objectives.

“Let me respond to the first one first, on the need to remedy the balance of about $2 million. I’m happy you said we are already in touch with the Minister of Finance; shortly after this meeting I am going to brief the SGF when he comes back, and then we will find a way to get in touch with the finance ministry to ensure that we do the needful. So I will also discuss with my colleague, the Permanent Secretary Special Duties who is who is responsible for these disbursements to be sure that the request is right there on his table and to follow up immediately”.

 

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After thanking the Global Fund for its roles in the fight against AIDS in Africa and the world at large, he then assured the organization that the government would step up its domestic resources as part of its commitment toward the fight against AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria.

Jean-Thomas Nouboussi, the Senior Fund Portfolio Manager, High Impact Africa of The Global Fund, had thanked Nigeria for its efforts in mobilizing its resources toward the fight against AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria. He requested to the SGF to step up the efforts in paying the remaining replenishment commitment and to also increase its contribution to 30 percent as it prepares for its seventh Replenishment in Washington DC.

According to him, the organisation is working with the Ministry of Health and other donor partners on the mobilization and utilisation of funds from governments in alleviating the plight of patients living with AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria.

Dr. Gambo Aliyu, the director-general, National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA), explained that the purpose of the visit by the Global Fund was to thank the Nigerian government for its financial support in the fight against AIDS and to also seek for support toward the success of the Seventh Replenishment scheduled to hold in September in New York.

The Global Fund is a worldwide movement that was created to defeat HIV, tuberculosis and malaria and to also ensure a healthier, safer, more equitable future. The organisation raises and invests $4 billion a year in order to fight the deadliest infectious diseases, challenge the injustice that fuels them as well as strengthen the health systems in more than 100 of the hardest hit countries.