FG Seeks Global Fund’s Intervention in Fight against AIDS, Malaria, TB

Olawale Ajimotokan in Abuja

The federal government has sought a sustained intervention from the Global Fund to fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria in consolidating its gain in the fight against three communicable diseases.

Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, made the appeal, yesterday, while receiving in audience the delegation from the Global Fund and the Country Coordinating Mechanism (CCM) led by the Acting Chairman of Global Fund Country Coordinating Mechanism for Nigeria, Ayo Ipinmoye.

Having thanked the funding organisation for its immense contributions in stemming the tide of AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria in the country, he sought more intervention from the Global Fund to enable it stamp out the dreaded diseases.

“Your interventions in TB and malaria are very much welcome. I also learnt that you also intervened in the prevalence of AIDS. I know it has really gone down, but there are some little signs that it has not yet completely eliminated, but we are very much on course. We immensely appreciate the support. We need this intervention to continue,” Akume said.

The Country Manager, Nigeria, Dr. Jean-Thomas Nouboussi, congratulated Akume on his appointment by President Bola Tinubu.

He said Global Fund has approved about $1 billion for Nigeria as part of its grant to assist the country in the fight against TB, malaria, and HIV/AIDS for the next three years, with the implementation plan that begins from January 2024. He also added that Nigeria was the highest beneficiary of the Global Fund grants out of approximately 110 countries.

He disclosed that Global Fund was also working with the Country Coordinating Mechanism to ensure equitable disbursement of fund to countries affected in the fight against tuberculosis, AIDS.

He  equally sought the support of the SGF to ensure speedy implementation of the funding to Nigeria in the fight against AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis in the country.

Furthermore, he commended the federal government for the success it recorded in the fight against the three dreaded diseases in Nigeria, with emphasis on tuberculosis, which according to him, was one of the countries that have achieved great feat on the treatment of tuberculosis.