In a groundbreaking development, Nigeria has secured a substantial grant totaling $933,156,931 for interventions against three major diseases over the next three years through the Grant Implementation Cycle 7 (GC7).
The Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Pate made the announcement, during the official launch of GC7 in Abuja on Tuesday.
Pate, who also serves as lead of the Global Fund Country Coordinating Mechanism (CCM), highlighted the significance of GC7, emphasising its approval by the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria in Nigeria. He described the launch as a crucial milestone in the country’s health sector renewal, demonstrating a dedicated commitment to achieving ambitious health targets through transparent resource utilisation and collaborative efforts.
The minister underscored the determination of the Federal Government and its partners to judiciously and transparently apply the funds, following the compact signed under the Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative unveiled by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in December 2023.
“We will hold ourselves accountable and work to scale services among all vulnerable populations. Specifically, during the grant period from now till 2026, we will increase PMCT services, scale TB case notification rates, and ensure the provision of malaria prevention and treatment for 80 per cent of the target population,” said Pate.
Expressing gratitude to the Global Fund, he highlighted collaborative initiatives, including the retraining of up to 120,000 frontline health workers, emphasising the pivotal role of a well-trained health workforce.
The minister committed to ambitious targets, setting specific goals such as achieving the 95-95-95 target for HIV by 2025 and improving TB case notification rates and treatment for drug-resistant TB. He stressed the importance of a robust framework for tracking resources and urged support for local manufacturing within the healthcare value chain.
“We want to ensure value for funds both for our development partners and, particularly, for Nigerians,” said Pate, calling on stakeholders to translate discussions into action. He assured rigorous monitoring and accountability to ensure the judicious use of the granted resources. The launch of GC7 signifies a new era in Nigeria’s healthcare landscape, poised to make significant strides in combating major diseases and improving overall health outcomes.
