By Phillip Pasula
MZUZU-(MaraviPost)-There are high hopes that Malawi will benefit from the Global Pandemic Fund by virtue of the fact that it is one of the poorest countries in the world with its poverty rate at 54.6%.
This was revealed at a media science café that took place at Aaucha Lodge in Mzuzu on Friday.
The café was aimed at allowing journalists to appreciate the global funding politics on pandemics and as well as enhancing their ability to write well-informed science-based stories on Covid-19 and other health issues.
The Global Fund was created in 2001 with its Secretariat in Geneva, Switzerland, with the aim of accelerating the end of AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria as epidemics.
The Pandemic Fund is a multi-stakeholder global partnership, with its Secretariat hosted by the World Bank and it is there to provide a dedicated stream of additional, long-term funding for critical pandemic prevention, preparedness and response (PPR) in eligible low and middle-income countries through investments and technical support.
It is meant to complement existing efforts and financing with a large emphasis on pandemic prevention and preparedness efforts as opposed to response actions or assistance.
Malawi therefore applied for assistance from the fund and it is waiting patiently for the financial assistance. The money is expected to be used in capacity building and strengthening; knowledge and skills for health workers, advanced laboratory and critical care equipment, improved healthcare infrastructure and technological support as well as comprehensive disease surveillance.
Senior Nursing Officer at Mzuzu Central Hospital, Monalisa Tembo, observed that the Covid-19 era had many challenges due to a staggering healthcare system.
Said Tembo: “The Abuja Declaration urges governments to spend 15% of their budgets on health care. However, Malawi’s case is not such. This leaves gaps in the health care system. As such priority is given to treatment than prevention.
“The Covid-19 pandemic has taught us the importance of prevention, preparedness and response. However, considering the health budget line for Malawi, the country cannot achieve this without additional funding. The pandemic fund therefore has the potential to improve the health outcomes of the Malawi population and achieve Health for All.”
But Programme Coordinator for Human Rights and Civil Society Strengthening at Youth and Society (YASI), Mwandida Chilongozi Theu, said for the funds to be effectively used, there should be transparent and accountable governance as well as needs-based allocation, among other things.
“Transparent and accountable governance mechanisms should be established for fund management. This includes clear guidelines for fund allocation, decision-making processes, and reporting mechanisms. Regular audits and independent oversight can help to ensure that funds are used appropriately.
“Needs-based allocation of funds should also be prioritized considering factors such as the severity of the pandemic in different regions, healthcare infrastructure, and vulnerable populations. Political biases or favoritism in resource allocation should be avoided at all costs,” remarked Theu.
There were reports of misappropriation of funds meant for COVID-19 in Malawi and one can only hope that the money that the country will receive from the Global Pandemic Fund will be used effectively for the benefit of poor Malawians.
