By Mike Mwaniki
The Global Fund—which finances the fight against HIV/Aids, Tuberculosis and Malaria—is seeking a minimum investment of $14 billion to assist in saving 16 million lives globally in the next three years.
The money, which translates to Sh1.4 trillion, is expected to fund efforts towards reducing Malaria, TB and HIV/Aids related deaths by half and build stronger health systems by 2023.
This announcement was made during a high-level meeting held in Paris, France early this year where French President Emmanuel Macron expressed his support for the Global Fund’s replenishment target.
The Global Fund Executive Director Peter Sands, World Health Organisation (WHO) Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus and French Minister of Solidarity and Health Agnes Buzyn, flanked Macron.
France, a founding member of the Global Fund, is preparing to host the Global Fund’s Sixth Replenishment Conference in Lyon in October 12019.
“New threats mean there is no middle ground. We need to step up the fight to protect and build on the gains we have made, or we will see those achievements eroded, infections and deaths resurge, and the prospect of ending the epidemics disappear,” Sands said.
The global community committed through the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end the epidemics of HIV, TB and malaria and other communicable diseases by .
Shortfalls in funding coupled with increased insecticide and drug resistance have slowed progress, enabling diseases to gain ground despite remarkable progress in the fight against HIV, TB and malaria.
In Kenya, through the support of the Fund- some 1.1 million people living with HIV were enrolled in antiretroviral therapy treatment in 2017, 84,000 people with TB were treated and 13,600,000 mosquito nets distributed during this period.
However, despite these achievements, Kenya still faces challenges in the response to HIV/Aids, TB and malaria and in building resilient and sustainable systems for health.
The National Aids and STIs Control Programme (NASCOP) Head, Dr Kigen Bartilol says with 1.5 million people living with HIV in the country, Kenya has the fourth largest HIV epidemic in the world.
Data by the National Aids Control Council shows about 53,000 new HIV infections are occurring annually in the country.
As for TB, Kenya is one of the 30 high-burden countries that account for more than 80 per cent of the world’s TB cases.
Multi-drug and extensively resistant TB—which is particularly complex and requires prolonged treatment—remains a big challenge in the country.
Experts say malaria also remains a major cause of sickness and death, with more than 70 per cent of the population at risk of the disease.
Global Fund says that to save 16 million lives and work to achieve SDG 3, “health and well-being for all”, the global community must innovate more, collaborate more, and execute more effectively.
A successful replenishment of US$14 billion will enable the Global Fund to continue playing its role as catalyst and leader in the fight against HIV, TB and malaria.
During the Paris meeting, Dr Ghebreyesus noted: “It is truly impressive to see how the Global Fund’s impact has grown over the past 17 years.”
Since its creation in 2002, more than 27 million lives have been saved and number of people dying from Aids, TB and malaria slashed by one-third.
“In 2017 alone, results in countries where the Global Fund invests include 17.5 million people on antiretroviral therapy for HIV; five million people with TB treated; and 197 million mosquito nets distributed.”
The Global Fund, delivers this impact together with a diverse range of partners including bilateral partners, multilateral and technical agencies, private sector companies, foundations, implementing countries, civil society groups, and people affected by the diseases.