HIV/AIDS: 470 million people tested, Stakeholders call for increase funding

Aids Healthcare Foundation (AHF) and the Coalition of Fund the Fund Campaign has said that over 470 million people have been tested for HIV as a result of global fund supported program as such called on the government to put out stringent mechanism to ensure donor funds are efficiently utilized. They made the statement during […]

Aids Healthcare Foundation (AHF) and the Coalition of Fund the Fund Campaign has said that over 470 million people have been tested for HIV as a result of global fund supported program as such called on the government to put out stringent mechanism to ensure donor funds are efficiently utilized.

They made the statement during a press conference in Abuja urging donors from high income Countries Japan, China and Germany to up their contributions at the 5th forthcoming Global Fund Replenishment round.

They said that the  Global fund to fight Aids, Tuberculosis and Malaria (GFATM) has saved millions of lives as such about 6.6 million people are receiving lifesaving antiretroviral therapy for HIV and 16 million people with HIV-TB co-infections have been treated.

Adetayo Tololawi,  AHF Country program manager, while fielding questions from the press said the “The essence of this meeting is to encourage high income countries to come together during the replenishment meeting to make pledges and redeem their pledges to global fund.”

He explained that the impact of global fund on the world three most deadly diseases HIV, Tuberculosis and Malaria cannot be overstated because in the long run the treatment and prevention is to eradicate HIV, Tuberculosis and possibly malaria.

According to AHF fact sheet if nothing is done to increase funding “New HIV infections and AIDS related deaths will continue to rise. This will lead to increased long term need for HIV treatment and higher costs.”