Global Fund grant helps put bednets in every home in Nigeria
23 August 2009
Largest malaria agreement ever signed by the Global Fund
Geneva – The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria and the Federal Ministry of Health of Nigeria announced today that a newly signed agreement will provide the resources for 30 million bednets, half the number needed to meet universal coverage by December 2010. Together, the newly signed malaria grants amount to the largest single malaria initiative ever signed by the Global Fund.
As part of its efforts to eliminate malaria, Nigeria aims to place two bed nets in every household in the country by distributing 62 million bed nets by December 2010. Global Fund grants will provide half of this total. Other contributors include: the World Bank, DFiD, USAID, UNITAID, UNICEF and the Nigerian government.
“I am extremely pleased that our partnership with Nigeria continues to grow: it shows Nigeria’s strong commitment to fight malaria, and strengthens our relationship since Nigeria is also a Global Fund donor,” said Professor Michel Kazatchkine, Executive Director of the Global Fund. “Nigeria is showing why reaching global targets for malaria is no longer fanciful but something that can actually be achieved,” he said.
The malaria grants signed today amount to US$ 285 million over two years. The Global Fund used a flexible approach by signing, in July 2009, an interim agreement to allow for the timely distribution of 3.4 millions bed nets, which have just arrived in country in time for the mass distribution campaign planned for December this year. Two other grants were also signed, one for tuberculosis for US$40 million and one for Health Systems Strengthening for US$55 million.
“This initiative has created the possibility for Nigeria to work not only for the control of malaria but for its elimination in the country,” said Professor Babatunde Osoti-mehin, Ministry of Health of the Nigeria.
Programs supported by the malaria grants will also provide 56 million quality malaria treatments via administration of artemisinin-based combination therapy (ACT) for the next two years and support the introduction of Malaria Rapid Diagnostic tests. The strong support of Roll Back Malaria (RBM) partners was essential in the negotiation process.
Implementation will be led by the Federal Ministry of Health of Nigeria in conjunction with two Non-Governmental Organizations, The Yakubu Gowon Center for National Unity and International Cooperation and Society for Family Health.
Note for editors
Malaria remains one of the leading causes of disease in Nigeria, and it has the highest malaria burden of any country in Africa. An estimated 225,000 people die of malaria every year, nearly all of them are children under 5 (WHO, 2008). Nigeria also has an estimated 57 million cases of malaria a year (WHO, 2008). Malaria is responsible for 30% of child-related mortality and 11% of maternal mortality. Nigeria contributes a quarter to the total African malaria morbidity and mortality burden. In countries that have conducted mass distribution of bed nets containing insecticides like the ones planned for Nigeria, deaths from malaria have dropped dramatically in a short period of time.
To date, the Global Fund has approved grants worth US$ 16.1 billion to 140 countries since its creation in 2002. The Global Fund currently provides a quarter of all international financing for AIDS globally, as well as two-thirds for TB and malaria.
The Global Fund supports programs which deliver services to hundreds of millions of people. As a result, more than 4 million lives have been saved. Every day, 3.000 deaths are averted. Main results include:
- 2.3 million people currently on antiretroviral therapy (ARV) for HIV;
- 5.4 million people on effective tuberculosis (TB) treatment;
- 88 million insecticide-treated bed nets (ITNs) distributed to protect families from malaria.
- 79 million people have been reached with HIV counseling and testing;
- 537,000 HIV+ pregnant women have been reached with prophylaxis for Prevention of Mother to Child Transmission (PMTCT);
- 110 million people have been reached with community outreach services;
- 3.7 million orphans have been provided with basic care and support.