By Joy Odor
The Honourable Minister of Health Dr. Osagie Ehanire has announced a grant of $890 Million US Dollars by the Global Fund Country over an implementation period of three years, 2021 to 2023.
Dr. Ehanire who is also the Chairman of the Global Fund Country Coordinating Mechanism (CCM) for Nigeria, disclosed this at the press briefing on the grant at the ministry of health on Tuesday, in Abuja.
The Honourable Minister described the latest grant as “the largest made to any country in the funding cycle, explaining that it is sequel to a successful funding request made by him.
According to him, Nigeria has accessed 94% of US$2,436,371,946 of the Global Fund’s on HIV/AIDS, TB and Malaria since inception in 2002.
He explained that the Global Funds’s commitment to Nigeria was split into four program areas: (a) HIV/AIDS, (b) Tuberculosis, (c) Malaria, (d) Resilient Systems Strengthening for Health, (RSSH).
The Minister gave the breakdown of the sum as follows:
HIV/AIDS
874,801,962
Tuberculosis
338,655,681
Malaria
1,168,613,356
RSSH
44,178,974
TB/HIV
10,421,972
He said the Global Fund gave approval to repurpose the sum of US$6.2 Million out of Nigeria’s on-going grants for HIV, TB and malaria, to support implementation of the nation’s initial Incident Action Plan (IAP) for COVID-19.
He said the Fund was used to support rapid expansion of Nigeria’s diagnostics capacity for COVID-19 through decentralization of testing to all 36 States and FCT.
The Minister said the rapid expansion of Nigeria’s diagnostics capacity for COVID-19 was achieved by using existing TB diagnostic instrument – the GeneXpert Machine and the procurement of Biosafety Cabinets for the GeneXpert Laboratories to be able to conduct COVID-19 tests, without exposing the laboratory scientists to risk of infection.
He said, in addition, the Global Fund also approved a grant of US$21.9 Million to support Nigeria’s COVID-19 response, saying the new grant is “the result of a proposal Nigeria CCM submitted to The Global Fund few weeks ago.
The new grant, he said, will be specifically used to procure test kits to support COVID-19 testing with the GeneXpert machine and other molecular laboratory equipment.”
The Minister added that “overall, the Global Fund grants for COVID-19 will support testing for about 1 Million Nigerians over the next 12 months.
Dr.Ehanire who reeled out the key achievements of the Global Fund investments in Nigeria said for the HIV/AIDS component, the Fund investment has contributed to placing 1.04 million people living with HIV/AIDS (PLHIV) on treatment in Nigeria, noting that with the support of the Fund, Nigeria has provided life-saving ARVs for 194,900 PLHIV on ART.
In addition, “the Minister stated that “the fund supported the 2018 NAIIS survey which provided precise data on the epidemic in Nigeria, confirming HIV prevalence of 1.3%.”
“On the TB programme, with the support of the fund, about 120,000 TB cases are identified and treated annually since the inception, while TB services are provided in more than 12,000 health facilities. “We have provided 398 GeneXpert machines in 36 States and FCT.
“For malaria,the Global Fund has contributed to a decline in malaria prevalence from 42% to 23% from 2010 – 2018.
“11 Million Long Lasting Insecticide Treated mosquito nets” which are distributed annually through mass campaigns.
“At least 4 million confirmed malaria cases are treated annually at public health facilities in 13 states supported by the Global Fund.
“The Fund has also built 6 Pharma grade medical warehouses, supported procurement of 3 X-ray mobile vans for screening of tuberculosis in Lagos in addition to infrastructural upgrade of health facilities and laboratories and capacity-building for frontline health care workers under the Resilient Systems Strengthening for Health, (RSSH)” he said.
While expressing appreciations on behalf of the President of the Federal Republic and the people of Nigeria, to The Global Fund “for the generous donations to Nigeria over the years, the Minister said their support has had a significant impact on the lives of Nigerians, particularly with regard to prevention and treatment of HIV/AIDS, TB and Malaria.
Dr. Ehanire extended the appreciation to the United Nations and bilateral partners of Nigeria for the consistent support to the Nation’s mission to achieve Universal Health Coverage for Nigerians.
He pledged that the grants will be put to judicious use with a high level of transparency and accountability maintained in accordance with President Buhari’s injunction of zero tolerance for corruption.
