CSOs Tasked On Malaria, AIDS, TB Programmes’ Funding

Ahead of the 7th Global Fund Replenishment Conference in the USA, the AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) has tasked the media and civil society organisations (CSOs) to step up advocacy for increased funding to tackle the scourge of tuberculosis (TB), Malaria and HIV across the world.

At a roundtable interaction with stakeholders in Abuja on Wednesday, with the theme: “Fund the fund for AIDS, TB and Malaria”, the director of advocacy, policy and marketing of AHF, Kemi Gbadamosi, said the $18 billion stipulated by Global Fund was not enough as over $28 billion would be required to save over 20 million lives from HIV, TB and Malaria epidemic worldwide.

She said, “We want to ensure that no child dies of malaria, that people no longer die from HIV/AIDS-related complications and that is only possible if the funding comes. We always say that Global Fund has the best funding mechanism. It works around transparency, accountability and works with countries to trace and treat these diseases to ensure that when you put this fund, it will trickle down to the communities and more people will benefit.

“This is why AHF is throwing its weight behind this advocacy. We are not only doing this in Nigeria but across the 13 countries the advocacy has been going on, including G-7 and G-20 countries.

“We have been speaking with representatives from various countries on why they must amplify the advocacy to get the funding. It is our hope that with this advocacy, on September 19, when more countries can make more pledges to global funding, we will be able to reach $18 billion and more.

“The role of CSOs in global finding cannot be overemphasised. Just recently, Japan announced its contribution of over $1bn, which is a significant increase from their last replenishment. Part of the reason that happened was because of civil society actions. As I speak with you today, a lot of mobilization is going on behind the scenes from CSOs across the world.

“Basically, we are targeting governments to say you need to fight for what counts. Put your money where your mouth is. We saw how advocacy attracted responses in HIV treatment. Advocacy is centered in TB, HIV and malaria. Beyond just asking the government to give to the Global Fund, CSOs are also key in ensuring that our resource mobilization succeeds,” she said.