The Global fund has allocated USD 234 million for the containment and prevention of HIV, tuberculosis (TB) and malaria between 2024 and 2026.
Global fund, which is a 21st-century financing vehicle that brings together all stakeholders involved in the fight against AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria for effective investment, made the allocation based on Ghana’s disease burden and income level, with the expectation of building a Resilient and Sustainable Systems for Health (RSSH) in the country.
About 95 million USD of the total amount has been allocated to HIV prevention and control interventions, 18 million USD for TB and 120 million USD for Tuberculosis with effect from January1, 2024 to December 31, 2026.
To obtain the funds, Ghana is expected to submit applications that takes into consideration the views, concerns, and suggestions on HIV, Tuberculosis and malaria from a wider section of the populace.
Mr. Samuel Hackman, the General Secretary of the Country Coordinating Mechanism (CCM) of the Global Fund to fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, said a Resilient and Sustainable Systems for Health (RSSH) would accelerate progress in the fight against the three diseases and enable health services to be delivered in an integrated, sustainable, equitable, efficient, and effective way.
Mr. Samuel Hackman was speaking at the launch of the CCM country dialogue, which is yet to take place in all the 16 regions across the country, as part of the preparations towards the development of a funding request to access the funds.
According to Mr. Hackman, the Global Fund had asked Ghana to develop a funding request through inclusive and transparent country dialogue with a broad range of stakeholders, including key and vulnerable populations.
Mr Hackman indicated that, due to a high co-infection of Tuberculosis and HIV, Ghana was required to submit TB/HIV as a joint funding request.
A Joint Effort Is Needed To Fight The Three Diseasese
Mr. Ernest Amoabeng Orstin, Vice Chairman of CCM, who spoke on behalf of the Health Minister, who is the Chair for the CCM, expressed his concern about the sudden comeback of HIV in the country after its little disappearance within the last few years.
Mr. Orstin stressed on the need for all to get involved to ensure a reduction in new infections of the three diseases, and as well end stigma and discrimination against persons living with the diseases.
Dr. Francis Kasolo, World Health Organization Ghana Representative, in a speech read on his behalf, said an inclusive and transparent country dialogue with a broad range of stakeholders, including key and vulnerable populations was essential in ensuring effective programming and utilization of investments towards the attainment of TB, HIV and Malaria-free Ghana by 2030.
“The dialogue when properly done shall produce a technically sound funding application, which is people centered and helps to accelerate national progress towards the elimination of the three diseases.”
Dr. Francis Kasolo
Dr Francis Kasolo further urged the Country Coordinating Mechanism to exhibit a high sense of nationalism and respect for differing opinions throughout the country dialogue process.
In his conclusion, Mr. Amoabeng Orstin advised the country to find a place for treatment that can accommodate over 100,000 additional Persons Living with HIV to reach epidemic control. We need to find the missing TB cases and accelerate efforts towards malarial elimination, he noted.
