The new deal will help in the control of tuberculosis in Nigeria till 2029.
The Nigerian government has signed a partnership agreement in funding support with the Global Fund to the tune of N2.6 trillion ($71.2 billion) to scale up the fight against HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria in Nigeria.
In a statement, Nigeria’s health ministry revealed the funds would particularly help in the control of TB epidemic in the country for the duration of ten years staring from 2019 to 2029.
Global Fund is an international financing organisation which focuses in funding programs in the likes AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria by attracting, leveraging and investing resources to countries to end the epidemics. The funding partner has been in operation in Nigeria since 2005.
The minister of state for health, Osagie Ehanire while speaking at the signing ceremony disclosed that Nigeria ranks 9th in TB cases and the leading cause of death from a single infectious agent, ranking above HIV/AIDS according to the WHO Global TB Report 2018.
He said the scourge has made many children orphans and hence the trend must not be allowed to continue.
Over the years, the National Tuberculosis & Leprosy Control Programme (NTBLCP) through the support of partners including WHO, Global Fund, has made giant strides in the control of TB in the area of policy development, capacity building, expansion of services and provision of quality care while addressing the need of vulnerable groups and key populations.
“Global Fund has committed $246 billion to Tuberculosis control response in Nigeria since the inception of GF support to TB in 2005’’.
Mr Ehanire pointed out that ‘’through this investment and in collaboration with other partners, the country has treated over one mollion Nigerians with Drug Resistant TB on quality treatment till date’’.
The minister reiterated the support of the government towards ensuring adequate budgetary allocation and release to the TB programme in line with achieving the set targets in the grant and National TB Strategic plan.
He minister added that “We will also work with the various levels of Government, our partners and the private sector to mobilise additional domestic resources to fill the current gap in TB funding.”
The Permanent Secretary, FMOH, Abdullaziz Abdullahi, said the federal government was delighted to be a principal recipient of the grant.
He further assured strict compliance to due process and transparency in the management of the funds.
Speaking earlier, the Head of Grant Management, Global Fund, Mark Edington, commended the federal government for the prompt release of her 2018 counterpart fund.
He also enjoined the state governments to be more committed towards the programme so as to end the scourge. He added that“The fight against TB and HIV/AIDS should no longer be business as usual’’