ETHIOPIA — The Ministry of Health, Global Fund, and Country Coordinating Mechanism (CCM) have signed a grant agreement worth over US$1 billion to combat Tuberculosis (TB), HIV/AIDS, and malaria in Ethiopia.
This funding is set to significantly enhance ongoing efforts in disease prevention by providing quality treatment and care, as well as improving overall health service accessibility.
Speaking during the grant signing ceremony, Health Minister Dr. Mekdes Daba highlighted that this agreement is crucial to strengthening Ethiopia’s health system.
She emphasized the potential for community-based and innovative approaches, citing the success of the existing health extension program and the promise of digital health initiatives.
According to Dr. Daba, Ethiopia has made remarkable progress in tackling challenges such as conflict, drought, and the COVID-19 pandemic.
Moreover, Dr. Daba pointed out the significant reduction in TB prevalence, with an average annual decline of 8-9 percent, along with a documented substantial decrease in malaria transmission. This progress demonstrates the effectiveness of the country’s health strategies and interventions.
According to the grant agreement, the Global Fund will provide Ethiopia with a grant of US$440 million and US$400,000 to fight TB, HIV/AIDS, and malaria respectively .
Dr. Mekdes further revealed that an additional US$183 million and US$200,000 has been allocated as “prioritized above allocation.”
The Ethiopian government has also committed to co-financing the program by allocating and obligating a total of US$451 million for the three-year agreement, as announced by the minister.
Linden Morrison, Head of the Global Fund’s High Impact Africa II Department, remarked that the signing of this grant is timely and critical in many respects.
The global health community is currently facing significant challenges, including the consequences of climate change and the urgent need to build resilient health systems to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030.
Amidst these challenges, Ethiopia has achieved outstanding progress over the past two years, providing a valuable experience and model for others.
Morrison further stated, “Ethiopia, we believe, has provided us with the platform to tackle these challenges and to move forward with the confidence that we will achieve the 2030 SDGs target.”
He also commended Ethiopia’s effective utilization of previous funds, which has led to outstanding results in the health sector.
Notably, he praised the country’s success in building a resilient health system despite facing both natural and man-made challenges.
In his address, Morrison noted that Ethiopia is one of the few countries in the Global Fund portfolio that has effectively utilized its resources to build a robust health system.
He commended Ethiopia’s effective use of past grants and emphasized that the country serves as a model for others on how to tackle health challenges and achieve the SDGs by 2030.
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