Gom Mirian
The Global Fund, in collaboration with the government of Nigeria and health partners, has inked eight new grants totaling US$993 million to bolster the fight against AIDS, tuberculosis (TB), and malaria in the country.
According to the organisation, these grants, spanning 2024-2026, will also prioritize fortifying health systems and pandemic preparedness.
Speaking at the event on Monday, Ms. Kachallom Dajo, Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Health said, “The HIV, TB and malaria allocations for Nigeria have been adjusted upward to better account for the burden and needs of key and vulnerable populations. The increased allocation also aims to address the critical service coverage gaps among pregnant women, children, adolescents, and key populations.
she said: “Despite the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, Nigeria has made significant strides in combating these diseases. Notably, between 2021 and 2023, 90% of people living with HIV in Nigeria know their status, 98% of those aware of their HIV-positive status are on treatment, and 95% of those on treatment have a suppressed viral load. New HIV infections have decreased by 28% since 2012.
“In the case of TB, treatment coverage has risen from 24% to 40% between 2019 and 2021. Nigeria has also made remarkable progress in malaria control, reducing the prevalence of the disease by almost 50% between 2010 and 2018.”
On his part, Jean-Thomas Nouboussi, the Global Fund’s grant portfolio manager for Nigeria, expressed confidence in the partnership with Nigeria and its impact in the fight against the three diseases. Stating, “The new grants will further support progress towards ending AIDS, TB, and malaria in the country.”
The grant signing ceremony was attended by representatives from various ministries, government agencies, civil society organizations, UN partners, the U.S. government, and the French embassy in Nigeria.
Nigeria stands as the Global Fund’s largest investment portfolio, with over US$4.8 billion invested since 2002, including US$1.2 billion in the previous grant cycle.
