At the time the world is struggling with the coronavirus pandemic, it has been noted that Tuberculosis (TB) and HIV still pose a significant burden to world’s health system.
Meanwhile, some health experts have been calling for continued efforts in fighting the two.
They say the same efforts being put in the fight against coronavirus should be replicated in attending to TB, Malaria, and AIDS.
In the same light, the Global Fund has increased its support to Zambia’s health sector and committed over US$315 million grant towards the fight against HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria in the country from 2021-2023.
The grant has been increased by over 51 million from the previous funding of about 263 million for the years 2018-2020.
Speaking during a media briefing in Lusaka yesterday, Global Fund Zambia Country Coordinating Mechanism Chairperson, Paul Mususu explained that the funds are expected to finance programmes on the three diseases.
He added that this include building resilient and sustainable systems for the health sector for the next three years.
Bishop Mususu noted that GFATM is also offering catalytic matching funds amounting to 12.3 million USD for other programmes such as adolescent girls and young women and men in high prevalent settings, condom programming and finding missing cases in TB treatment.
National AIDS Council (NAC) Director General, Connie Osborn explained that the Coronavirus has affected the health care provision system in the country.
Meanwhile, the United Nations AIDS Country Director, Tharcisse Barihuta has pledged the UN systems’ continued support to Zambia’s health sector during the COVID-19 pandemic in order to avoid any disruption of effective health care services.