Ethiopia

Ethiopia obtains more than $600m in grants to combat TB, HIV, and Malaria

Ethiopia Health Minister Mekdes Daba during the launch of the GC7 Global Fund grant to Ethiopia. Photo: X/MekseDaba

By Erick Kariuki | Thursday, June 20, 2024

Ethiopia's Health Minister, Mekdes Daba, emphasised the crucial role of community-based and innovative strategies in combating tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS, and malaria.

Ethiopia has successfully secured a $623.6 million (Sh79.97 billion) grant agreement with the Global Fund, aimed at combating tuberculosis (TB), HIV, and malaria. This substantial funding will support the country's efforts to control and ultimately eradicate these diseases, enhancing public health and improving the quality of life for millions of Ethiopians.

The grants provided by the Global Fund Secretariat and the Country Coordinating Mechanism (CCM/E) members are expected to bolster Ethiopia's healthcare infrastructure and expand access to critical treatments and preventive measures.

This financial support will enable the implementation of comprehensive health programmes, including the distribution of medications, improvement of diagnostic facilities, and promotion of public health education campaigns to reduce the prevalence of these diseases.

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A $440.4 million (Sh 56.4 billion) of the secured grant was set to tackle the three diseases, tuberculosis (TB), HIV, and malaria. In addition, the organization also allocated an extra $183.2 million (Sh23.49 billion) as "prioritised above allocation." bringing the total commitment from the Global Fund to an impressive $623.6 million.

In addition to the grants, the Ethiopian government has committed $451 million (Sh57.84 billion) to strengthen the fight against these diseases. This significant domestic investment demonstrates Ethiopia's dedication to improving public health and underscores the country's collaborative efforts with the Global Fund.

During the signing of the substantial grant agreement, Ethiopia's Health Minister, Mekdes Daba, emphasised the crucial role of community-based and innovative strategies in combating tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS, and malaria. She highlighted the success of the country's health extension program and pointed to the potential effectiveness of digital health interventions.

Minister Daba expressed optimism that these novel approaches would further advance Ethiopia's progress in disease control. She also noted an outstanding annual drop of 8-9 per cent in tuberculosis infections, highlighting Ethiopia's continuous efforts to combat the disease.

"My sincere thanks to the Global Fund Secretariat, CCM/E members, and all partners for their unwavering support. This huge grant extends our two-decade partnership in fighting HIV, TB, malaria and improving our health system," Mekdes Daba said.