Nigeria Receives Vital Equipment from The Global Fund to Combat HIV/AIDS, TB, and Malaria
Nigeria Receives Vital Equipment from The Global Fund to Combat HIV/AIDS, TB, and Malaria
Nigeria Receives Vital Equipment from The Global Fund to Combat HIV/AIDS, TB, and Malaria
By Ayshatu S. Rabo
In a significant move towards improving healthcare in Nigeria, a delegation led by Dr. Tunji Alausa, the Honorable Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, spearheaded an unveiling event focused on “Making Global Fund Investments Work For Nigeria.” The event, held today in Lagos State, marked the distribution of 72 Hilux Project vehicles and medical equipment procured by The Global Fund to bolster efforts against HIV/AIDS, TB, and Malaria.
The event was preceded by a strategic meeting led by Mark Eddington, Head of Grant Management at The Global Fund’s Country Coordinating Mechanism (CCM), with key stakeholders including Prof. Akin Abayomi, Special Advisor to Gov. Babjide Sanwo-Olu, Dr. (Mrs.) Kemi Ogunyemi, Perm Sec of Lagos State MOH, and Segun Ogboye. Last year, Nigeria recorded over 300,000 tuberculosis (TB) cases, marking a significant milestone in TB case detection, which rose from 24% to 68%.
The equitable distribution of equipment and vehicles across the 36 states and FCT will bolster the national response to HIV/AIDS and Tuberculosis, empowering state governments to oversee integrated HIV and TB programs statewide. This move aligns with the National Alignment 2.0 agreement, aiming to decentralize responsibilities and enhance ownership, coordination, and management of the national health response at the state and local government levels.
While Lagos State has made commendable strides in reducing HIV/AIDS, TB, and malaria prevalence, there is a call for other states to emulate such efforts and invest in capacity building to achieve similar success.
Dr. Alausa emphasised that “flexibility and adaptability in addressing emerging challenges is critical, so, I urgent states and local governments to allocate resources effectively and coordinate strategies to eliminate these diseases and achieve long-term health goals like Universal Health Coverage. ”
Acknowledging The Global Fund’s strategic partnership with Nigeria for over two decades, Dr. Alausa expressed gratitude for their continuous support. Over the past three years, The Global Fund has donated essential medical equipment to Nigeria, underscoring the importance of building sustainable capacity within the country to ensure continued progress even without external support.
In line with Nigeria’s four-point agenda, Dr. Alausa reaffirmed the commitment to providing necessary support and complementary funding to ensure the availability of HIV tests, including HIV self-testing kits.
In closing, Dr. Alausa thanked The Global Fund for their contributions and reiterated Nigeria’s determination to end HIV, TB, and malaria in the country by 2030.
Nigeria Receives Vital Equipment from The Global Fund to Combat HIV/AIDS, TB, and Malaria
