The Sixth Replenishment Conference of the Global Fund was held in France. Its aim is to fight AIDS, TB, and malaria. Thus, the Nigerian government pledged $12 million to save lives. The conference was hosted by French President Emmanuel Macron. Following his request for governments to open wallets wide, the Global Fund contributions exceeded the target. The majority of the attendees were African leaders who looked forward to the end of the epidemics. French’s president made it clear that the investment was not charity. In contrast, it’s a step towards removing TB, HIV, and malaria from the face of the Earth. By contributing money, the spread of these epidemics to poor countries will stop.
These donations come from governments, philanthropists, and the private sector. It aims to finance health programs across the globe. Recipients of the fund include Nigeria, Tanzania, DRC, Mozambique, and Zimbabwe. As a result, 234 million infections should be eliminated by 2030. The organization has saved 32 million lives since its establishment in 2002.
Global Fund sets to release $10 million to end treatable and preventable epidemics across the globe. In this regard, leaders have made commitments to end these epidemics by 2030 through Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Despite HIV, TB, and malaria being preventable, they claim 2.6 million lives each year. The fund pledged $14.02 billion in the next three years. This report was given by Toyin Aderibigbe, the head of the National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA). The purpose of this money is to reinforce the health system. This is by putting in place health security through disease surveillance. Besides, it will tackle health inequities as well as gender barriers and human rights. Nigerian government pledged $1 million to save the lives of vulnerable people.
About the Investment
Most importantly, the investment is meant to increase domestic resources in health programs. “In solidarity, 23 implementing countries from Africa made pledges to the Global Fund. With Nigeria demonstrating its support with the international community by making a financial pledge of US $2 million- a 20 percent increase to the Global Fund,”
According to Mr. Peter Sands, the executive director of Global Fund, the world’s heading towards reaching $14 million needed to save 16 million lives. “With the incredible support of partners and donors around the world, we succeeded in reaching over $14 billion to save 16 million lives.
“Building on the concept of shared responsibility, Nigeria ensured through the ongoing budgetary process President Buhari’s commitment. This was at the United Nations General Assembly in 2017. He will make government resources (approximately N 3.5 billion) available to put an additional 50,000 Nigerians on life-saving antiretroviral therapy every year is realized,” a statement said.
Other Leaders’ Views
Nigerian minister of health Osagie Ehanire said that every Nigerian has a right to good health. Therefore, the government should ensure that it avails this basic right to everyone. He added that the Nigerian government is committed to managing the HIV/AIDS epidemic.
The UNAIDS Executive Director Gunilla Carlsson confirmed that Nigeria bears a huge burden of the epidemics which are prevalent here. Serious and urgent action needs to be taken.
”The increase in Nigeria’s pledge to the Global Fund sends a strong signal that Nigeria is ready and committed to ending its Tb, malaria, and HIV epidemics. As a result, the country will be free from illnesses.
The Director-General of NACA, Gamno Aliyu, commented too. “The continued government of Nigeria funding for growing the National Treatment and Prevention Programs is vital to the sustainability of the AIDS response.” Therefore, the efforts are worthwhile.
The National Coordinator of the Network for the People Living with HIV, Abdukadir Ibrahim said: “Nigeria’s government should own up to the HIV/AIDS response. Putting money into the national response is an investment in humanity. So, the Nigerian government pledged $12 billion to save lives in line with this goal.
