An international organisation, Global Fund, says it has approved about $1bn to assist Nigeria in the fight against tuberculosis, malaria, and Human Immunodeficiency Virus, Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome
The organisation added that the approved money was for the next three years.
A statement on Thursday by the Director of Information, Office of the Secretary to Government of the Federation, Willie Bassey, quoted the Country Portfolio Manager, Nigeria, Dr Jean-Thomas Nouboussi, as stating this during a courtesy call on the SGF, George Akume.
The statement quoted Nouboussi as congratulating Akume on his appointment as the SGF.
He said, “The Global Fund has approved about $1bn for Nigeria as part of its grant to assist the country in the fight against tuberculosis, malaria, and HIV/AIDS for the next three years – with the implementation plan commencing from January 2024.”
Nouboussi said out of approximately 110 countries, Nigeria is the highest beneficiary of the Global Fund grants.
He added that Global Fund was working with Country Coordinating Mechanism in ensuring equitable disbursement of funds to countries affected in the fight against tuberculosis, AIDS, and malaria around the globe.
He, therefore, sought the support of the SGF to ensure speedy implementation of the funding to Nigeria.
In response, the SGF said, “Your intervention in TB and malaria are very much welcome. I also learnt that you also intervened in the prevalence of AIDS, I know it has really gone down, but there are some little signs that it has not yet been completely eliminated, but we are very much on the course. We immensely appreciate the support. We need this intervention to continue.”
