EKO NEWS
Tunji Alausa Hails Global Fund As FG Receives Equipment To Fight HIV, Tuberculosis
-
Alausa was in Lagos on Tuesday to receive equipment donated by the Global Fund.
-
In recent years, Global Fund has contributed financially and materially to Nigeria’s efforts against HIV and tuberculosis (TB)
-
The latest donation includes vehicles to support state governments’ oversight of HIV and TB programmes.
Eko Hot Blog reports that Nigeria’s Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Tunji Alausa, has, on behalf of the Federal Government of Nigeria, received equipment donated by Global Fund to support the country’s efforts against HIV and tuberculosis (TB).
The minister received the equipment on Tuesday at an event themed “Making the Global Fund Investments work for Nigeria”, which held at the Federal Medical Stores, Oshodi, Lagos State.
EDITOR’S PICKS
Global Fund is an international financing organisation aimed at defeating HIV, TB, and malaria globally and has donated to Nigeria in the past.
The latest donation to Nigeria includes 72 Toyota Hilux operational vehicles which will be distributed equally across the 35 states and the federal capital territory (FCT) to support state governments’ oversight of integrated HIV and TB programmes in the respective states.
In his address at the event, Dr. Alausa described vehicles as a “critical component” of the response strategy.
He noted that the move will also aid the devolution and decentralization of responsibilities as well as shifting the ownership, coordination and management of the national response from the central government to the states and local government.
The minister, while commending the Global Fund, stated that, in the past three years, the organisation had donated 333 units of Quatro TrueNat Machine, 100 units of TB-Lamp machines, 350 units of mobile digital X-Ray machines, 45 units of the Class II Biological Safety Cabinet (BSC) and 2 units of Mobile Chest X-Ray.
Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare Welfare, Dr. Tunji Alausa
He revealed that these equipment were distributed nationwide to effectively close the diagnostic gap in the management of Tuberculosis, helping Nigeria to increase its TB case finding from 24 percent to 68 percent.
Dr. Alausa also acknowledged improvements in HIV treatment coverage in Nigeria through the support of the Global Fund and other funding partners with an estimated 1.63 million persons on life-saving Anti-retroviral (ART), representing about 90% of People Living with HIV/AIDS.
FURTHER READING
The minister equally commended efforts of the partner MDAs, NACA, NASCP, NTBLCP and NMEP for coordinating government’s response with support from the Country Coordinating Mechanism and Non-Governmental Organizations.
Read his full address below:
PROTOCOLS
It is my pleasure to be here at our FEDERAL MEDICAL STORE OSHODII – Lagos, at the invitation of the Country Coordinating Mechanism (CCM), Nigeria-The Global Fund to receive, on behalf of the Government of Nigeria, valuable equipment to support the HIV and Tuberculosis National Responses and the building of a Resilient and Sustainable System for Health in Nigeria. This equipment was purchased with funding support by the Global Fund as part of Grant Cycle 6 investments in the 2021-2023 implementation period.
2. Nigeria is one of the highest recipients of the Global Fund’s investment and has signed about US$4.8 Billion grants from the Global Fund including the Grant Cycle 7 that was signed recently to support the HIV/AIDS, TB and Malaria response as well as building resilient and sustainable system for health since 2002.
The Global Fund has been and remains a strategic partner to The Federal Republic of Nigeria for over 2 decades. Nigeria has been both a contributor and a recipients of The Global Fund financial support. Nigeria has contributed a total of US$38.79 million to the Global Fund to date. The country pledged US$13.2 million for the Global Fund’s Seventh Replenishment, covering 2023-2025 allocation period. This represents a 10% increase over its Sixth Replenishment pledge which is a demonstration of political will.
3 The current donation of 72 Toyota Hilux operational vehicles which will be distributed equally across 35 states and FCT of the country to support state governments’ oversight of integrated HIV and TB programs ni the respective states, which, as we all know by now, are a critical component of the response strategy. This is also a fitting step towards the devolution and decentralization of responsibilities as well as shifting the ownership, coordination and management of the national response from the central government to the states and local government consistent with the National Alignment 2.0 agreements.
4. In the past three years, The Global fund had donated 333 units of Quatro TrueNat Machine, 100 units of TB-Lamp machines, 350 units of mobile digital X-Ray machines, 45 units of the Class II Biological Safety Cabinet (BSC) and 2 units of Mobile Chest X – Ray.
These equipment were distributed nationwide to effectively close the diagnostic gap in the management of Tuberculosis.
5. I am pleased to note that on account of these investments by the Global fund and other funding agencies couple with the complementary funding and support by the Government, Nigeria diagnosed over 300,000 tuberculosis (TB) cases in 2023, marking the first time in its history that such a high number of TB diagnosis is recorded. With this, Nigeria has now increased TB case finding from 24 percent to 68 percent.
6. I also acknowledge improvements in HIV treatment coverage in Nigeria between 2020 and 2023, despite the impact of the COVID- 19 pandemic through the support of the Global Fund and other funding partners, significant results have been achieved in the fight against HIV with an estimated 1.63 million persons on life-saving Anti-retroviral (ART) representing about 90% of People Living with HIV/AIDS. Progress in “Prevention of Mother to Child Transmission” remains challenging; but we remain resolute too in our goal to eliminate Mother-to-Child-Transmission of HIV. Through our new thrust for PMTCT optimization and scale-up, Government is committed to providing the necessary support and complementary funding to ensure availability of HIV tests, including HIV self-testing kits.
7. The equipment we are receiving today will certainly be of great benefit to the people of Nigeria. It also contributes significantly to the attainment of the four point agenda of the Ministry of Health and social welfare which includes; 1)Improved Governance, 2) Improved population health outcomes, 3) Unlocking healthcare value chain and 4 Health Security for Nigerians.
8. I wish to convey the appreciation of His Excellency, President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to the Global Fund for donating the equipment we commission today and for their support to the country’s response towards ending the epidemic of HIV, TB and Malaria in the country by the year 2030. I wish to commend the efforts of the partner MDAs, NACA, NASCP, NTBLCP and NMEP for the excellent job of coordinating government’s response with support from the Country Coordinating Mechanism and Non-Governmental Organizations who are Principal Recipients of the grant particularly FHI 360 the PR for the GC6 HIV grant, Institute of Human Virology, Nigeria (IHVN) for the facilitation of this event.
9. Ladies and Gentlemen, as I close, permit me to draw your attention again to the theme, of today’s event which is “Making the Global Fund Investments work for Nigeria” and re-emphasize the importance of strong partnership and commitment as we aim towards closing the remaining gaps in our strategy.
10. It is my singular honor and privilege to formally commission the 72 vehicles and other equipment into use, to the Glory of God and the improved health of the citizens of Nigeria.
11. I thank you for your attention.
Click here to watch video of the week:
Advertise or Publish a Story on EkoHot Blog:
Kindly contact us at [email protected]. Breaking stories should be sent to the above email and substantiated with pictorial evidence.
Citizen journalists will receive a token as data incentive.
Call or Whatsapp: 0803 561 7233, 0703 414 5611
