Nigeria’s malaria prevention and treatment programs just received a $225 million boost.
The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria is currently devising a new funding model that is expected to increase value for money by ensuring strategic investment in programs that can be most effective. It will target 20 countries designated as high-impact — including Nigeria.
The two grant agreements include a $50 million contribution for bed nets, approved in an “unusual move” that showed countries willing to invest their own money in health are more likely to win donor support for their initiatives.
The Global Fund’s 2012-2016 strategy reveals a focus on linking donor funds with quality national strategies and systems, and in strengthening health systems through its interventions.
The Global Fund has said it would be reforming its system of managing grants to modify how countries apply for money, increase the flexibility of the process, allow for earlier feedback and, ultimately, decrease the time it takes to disburse funding. Options for a new funding model are scheduled to be presented at the next board meeting in September.
The grants augment an existing partnership with Nigeria, which has already distributed more than 45 million bed nets to date. The National Malaria Control Program of the Federal Ministry of Health and Society for Family Health Nigeria are the primary grant recipients.
The newest grants will support the goal of ensuring the whole country has access to insecticide-treated nets, medicine and diagnostic tests. They will also be used to train public and private-sector health workers and raise awareness in communities about malaria.
The programs will complement government efforts, and those of partners including the World Bank, U.K. Department of International Development, U.S. Agency for International Development, U.S. President’s Malaria Initiative, UNICEF and UNITAID.
Nigeria’s malaria burden is one of the highest in the world, and the country’s entire population is at risk for contracting the disease. Since 2003, the Global Fund has given $980 million to Nigeria to help the country fight HIV and AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria.
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