President Akufo-Addo has unveiled a $204 million Global Fund grant towards the eradication of HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria by 2030. This is a new round of the Global Fund Grant to support Ghana’s efforts for the next three years.

Speaking at the launch, the President assured that his government would fulfil its counterpart financing of $45 million to bolster investments made by the fund. In effect, the government will ensure that the new grant is being implemented in the country. He said his administration would increase domestic financing to ensure universal health coverage for all.

The grant is being made available to Ghana by the Global Fund through its New Funding Model Three (NFM3). Ghana has received disbursements from the fund to the tune of $804 million since 2002.

President Akufo-Addo mentioned that the new grant will help to achieve lower morbidity and mortality in malaria, HIV and TB. It would also strengthen the entire healthcare system thereby accelerating progress towards the realization of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

He said, with the fund, Ghana would be able to continue with the programme to eliminate HIV, malaria and TB. The fund will enable the country to build health structures to deal with other chronic infectious diseases, he added.

The President then urged the Ministry of Health to see to the effective utilization of the grant to serve its purpose. He also called on the Ministry to work with stakeholders to ensure that processes and controls on the quality of service provided against the three diseases improve.

Targets of the Global Fund Grant

The grant would accelerate Ghana’s progress towards the realization of the ambitious UNAIDS 90-90-90 HIV treatment target.

This is to ensure that 90 per cent of all people living with HIV know their HIV status; 90 per cent of all diagnosed with HIV infection receive sustained antiretroviral therapy; 90 per cent of all people receiving antiretroviral therapy have viral suppression.

Also, it hopes to attain a 35% reduction in TB deaths, 25% reduction in TB incidence and 90% multidrug-resistant (MDR)-TB treatment success rate; get a 90% reduction in malaria mortality, 50% reduction in incidence; and malaria pre-elimination in seven districts. Furthermore, it will expand and consolidate critical health systems for supply chain, data management, and resilient communities.

The President revealed that the grant will also help expand the detection of TB cases and TB treatment. It will help construct an in-patient facility in the management of drug-resistant TB patients at Nsawam, he added.

Additionally, the grant will enable the government to increase the coverage of distribution of mosquito nets; to scale up seasonal malaria chemoprevention for children from the five northern regions towards achieving zero malaria infection. Children from the Oti and Bono Regions are also inclusive.

Touching on COVID-19, the President appreciated the support offered by the fund for testing and the procurement of personal protective equipment (PPE). On the other hand, the Divisional Head of the Grant Management of the Global Fund, Mr Mark Edington commended Ghana for its response to the pandemic. In recognition of the need for additional investment, the Global Fund promised to offer $70 million in new funds to Ghana to support the COVID-19 fight.