Federal Government has pledged $12 million to Global Fund to strengthen the fight against malaria, tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS, and other communicable diseases.
Spokesperson, National Agency for the Control of Aids (NACA), Toyin Aderibigbe, in statement, yesterday, said the pledge was made at the sixth replenishment conference of the Global Fund to fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (Global Fund), held in Lyon, France.
She said that, in total, $14.02 billion was realised from 23 implementing countries for use in next three years, to save 16 million lives by 2030 through health system strengthening, health security reinforcement via disease surveillance and tackling health inequities, including human rights and gender barriers, and also spur massive growth in domestic investment in health.
READ ALSO: Lallana Saves Liverpool As They Clinch Draw With Man Utd
She said that Nigeria, expectedly, demonstrated its support and solidarity with the international community by making a financial pledge of $12 million (20% increase) to the Fund.
Minister of Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire, said that President Muhammadu Buhari was committed to the cause of winning the war against HIV and other communicable diseases.
Executive Director of Global Fund, Peter Sands, said the shared commitment of partners and donors across the world led to the contribution of $14 billion to help save 16 million lives.
Executive Director, UNAIDS, Gunilla Carlsson, confirmed that Nigeria bears a huge burden of the global TB, malaria and HIV epidemics, and it is imperative that both domestic and international investments were urgently scaled up.
