Buhari demands accountability framework as Nigeria launches $890m Global Fund’s health grants

*The Federal Government launches Global Fund’s $890 million grants to support the establishment of resilient and sustainable systems for sustainable healthcare delivery in the country

Isola Moses | ConsumerConnect

As part of efforts at supporting the establishment of resilient and sustainable systems for sustainable healthcare delivery in Nigeria, President Muhammadu Buhari directed Dr. Osagie Ehanire, Honourable Minister for Health, to ensure effective utilisation of Global Fund’s generous provision of $890 million in the country.

ConsumerConnect reports the global grants are dedicated to upkeep healthcare provision over the next three years, and support the country’s fight against HIV-AIDS, Tuberculosis (TB) and Malaria.

Buhari, who issued the directive at the virtual launch of the $890 million grant for the period of 2021─2023 Thursday, March 18 in Abuja, FCT, stated that grants would also support the establishment of resilient and sustainable systems for health.

The President said: “Let me also emphasise here that this administration has zero-tolerance for corruption and inefficient use of resources.

“In this regard, I hereby direct the Minister of Health (Dr. Osagie Ehanire) to set up an accountability framework to monitor the use of this fund and provide periodic performance reports to my office.”

He assured the donor agencies and development partners of judicious use of the grant, said the funding would complement investments in the health sector, and help to curb new infections, reduce HIV-AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria-related morbidity and mortality.

Buhari noted: “It is my wish that in the next three years, these three diseases are taken much further down the path of elimination.”

He applauded the Global Fund for their contribution of the sum of $51 million during the early stages of Nigeria’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic for procurement of Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs), test kits, and scaling up of diagnostic capacity.

The President further stated: “I acknowledge the support of Development Partners, namely; the United States Government, the United Nations system, bilateral agencies, and various local and international foundations.

“I am pleased to say that, on our part, we are on track to fulfilling our co-financing commitments to the Global Fund for this new funding cycle and meeting our other commitments as and when due.”

On Nigeria’s contribution to the Fund, the President announced that he approved $12 million to the last Global Fund Replenishment held in Lyon, France, representing a 20 per cent increase on the country’s immediate previous contribution.

“Ladies and Gentlemen, our administration is committed to increasing domestic financing and exploring other innovative ways of increasing financing for health, to ensure Universal Health Coverage,” said President Buhari.

He as well commended the work of Nigeria’s Country Coordinating Mechanism, under the leadership of the Minister of Health, and reaffirmed the country’s commitment to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030.

Buhari added that his administration would continue to work with fellow Heads of State and Governments across the African continent to ensure sustained high-level political engagement to achieve the SDG goals.

Kindly Share This Story