NAIROBI, Kenya, Aug 2- Global health leaders, private sector partners and key government officials from different parts of the globe have made a joint call for increased funding and support from the Global Fund to African countries.
Speaking during a high level session hosted by Friends Africa, (an advocacy initiative aimed at mobilising political and financial support to fight AIDS, TB and Malaria) at the recently concluded International AIDS Conference in Washington DC, the participants called on donor countries to increase their support and commitment to the success of the Global Fund.
Prominent development expert Professor Jeffrey Sachs who chaired a session discussing what the Global Fund means to Africans called on donor countries to be committed and honest in supporting the fight against AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria through the Global Fund.
“We are all Africans, we are all in this together,” he said.
He however challenged the African countries to be clear and specific on what areas they need support from the development partners.
The Global Fund is the largest multi-lateral financing agency for the fight against AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria.
Global Fund Deputy Executive Director Debrework Zewdie called on African governments to stand up in support of the Global Fund, because without their support, the Global Fund would not achieve much.
At a different session on ‘Gift from Africa’, speakers called on the private sector in the continent to be actively involved in the fight against HIV/AIDS by supporting the Global Fund programs in Africa.
Also, at the two sessions, Friends Africa launched two flagship publications titled: What the Global Fund means to Africans and Innovative Approaches to fighting HIV/AIDS, TB and Malaria: A Partnership between the Global Fund and the African Private sector.
The two publications are part of Friends Africa’s documentation series aimed at documenting success stories in the fight against AIDS, TB and Malaria in Africa.
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