President Julius Maada Bio has told Global Fund’s delegation from Geneva, diplomats and officials from the Ministry of Health that the Global Fund to fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, was among Sierra Leone’s most steadfast allies.
He told these officials after officially receiving a symbolic cheque of US$136,244,673 grant on behalf of the people of Sierra Leone at the launch of the Global Fund Grant Cycle 7 with the expiration date of the Grant Cycle 6 due on 30th June 2024.
“The Global Fund’s US$136,244,673 grant will go a long way in tackling the three diseases which are AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria. This grant will help us to intensify our efforts to fight these diseases and implement innovative programs. As a government, we are announcing a US$6.7m as a counterpart funding to the one provided by the Global Fund,” he told his audience.
He told his audience that since 2018, his government has pioneered human capital development within three pillars which include education, health and agriculture, adding that such commitment had allowed citizens to be more productive.
“Although Sierra Leone has been benefiting from Global Fund since 2005, this was the second time that the Global Fund is launching the grant at State House, the first time being in 2021. That showed that we take this grant seriously and we would do the implementation in a very transparent manner,” he told his audience.
Mark Eldon-Edington, Global Fund’s Head of Grant Management Division, recalled that they have been working with Sierra Leone since 2005, and have supported the government and people of Sierra Leone with strong commitment.
“With this new grant, we are expecting that those who need health care services the most are reached. In that regard, the government, Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) have a role to play so that the funds go to the beneficiaries”, he said.
He noted that Sierra Leone was an important partner to Global Fund, thereby commending the government for its health insurance scheme and also increasing budget to the health sector.
“We would work to reduce HIV, TB and malaria in key affected population. During the implementation of Grant Cycle 6, we were able to distribute treated mosquito bed nets to schools so as to reduce malaria among children,” he told his audience.
He commended President Bio’s full support in ensuring transparency and accountability in the use of funds from Global Fund for AIDS, TB and Malaria.
United States of America’s Ambassador to Sierra Leone, Bryan David Hunt, said US is the highest contributor to the Global Fund, noting that it was US main goal to support the people of Sierra Leone to live a healthy and prosperous life.
“This year, the US will bring to the table eight million United States Dollars (US$8m) to support in the fight against HIV, thereby complementing the Global Fund in that regard. We have supported the Ministry of Health to train 25,000 health care workers in various areas,” he noted, adding that Global Fund makes countries better prepared to tackle future epidemics.
Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Sartie Kenneh, said the US$136,244,673 Global Fund grant which implementation starts 1st July 2024 and ends 30th June 2027, is the seventh Grant Cycle, adding that the sixth Grant Cycle, which started in 2021, would end on 30th June 2024.
He disclosed that the recipients of the Global Fund’s Grant Cycle 7 are the Ministry of Health and World Vision, stating that the Ministry of Health would get a share of US$120m and the remaining will go to the World Vision.
“This new grant would enable us to test 98% of people who would subsequently know their status and 48% of HIV/AIDS patients would be put on treatment. For tuberculosis, we will ensure to reduce the number of cases and improve on diagnosis since TB is a curable disease,” he said.
