Q FM Africa's Modern Radio
The Global Fund under the new funding model has awarded Zambia US$158 million for HIV and Tuberculosis and US$82 million for malaria.
This will be implemented by the Ministry of Health, Ministry of Community Development Mother and Child Health and Churches Health Association of Zambia (CHAZ) over a three year period beginning 2015.
Speaking during the signing ceremony of the four grants, Finance Minister Alexander Chikwanda says since the inception of the cooperation with the Global Fund in 2002, Zambia has been privileged to have received over US$742.6 million from the Global Fund.
Mr. Chikwanda states that with the support from Global Fund and others partners, Zambia has significantly improved the prevention and treatment of TB, Malaria and HIV/AIDS as well as helped strengthen infrastructure, human resource, equipment, information systems and procurement and supply management system.
He says according to the 2014 estimates, Zambia has an adult HIV prevalence rate of approximately 12.5 percent with about 1.2 million people living with HIV out of which 150, 000 are children below the age of 14.
Speaking at the same event, Global Fund Executive Director Mark Dybul says the target that Zambia has set for the grants are critical to further reducing the toll the three diseases are taking on the people and economy of Zambia.
And Health Minister Joseph Kasonde says the grants will help Zambia intensify TB case detection among key populations identified by Zambia’s TB survey.
Some notable people who were present at the signing ceremony include, Head of European Union Delegation Gilles Hervio, Ambassador of Sweden Lena Nordstron, Secretary to the Treasury Fredson Yamba and UNDP Resident Representative in Zambia, Janet Rogan among others.