Tag Archives: Global Funds

Health

Global Funds aids Chakwera leadership with US$525m for HIV, TB, Malaria fight

Maravi Post Reporter

LILONGWE-(MaraviPost)-On Tuesday, August 28, 2024 President Lazarus Chakwera government and the Global Fund have signed a landmark US$525 million grant (approximately MK900 billion) for the implementation of HIV, TB, and Malaria interventions from now until 2027 under the 7th Global Fund’s funding cycle.

The agreement was signed at Kamuzu Palace in Lilongwe by Secretary for Treasury Dr. Betchani Tchereni and the Global Fund’s Head of Grant Management Unit, Mark Edington, in a ceremony presided over by President Chakwera.

In his statement, President Chakwera declared that this grant signals the beginning of a renewed commitment to eradicating HIV, tuberculosis, and malaria—diseases that have long afflicted Malawians and stifled the nation’s progress.

“The Government and people of Malawi remain eternally grateful to all the Global Fund donors whose commitment to making the lives of Malawians healthier is unmatched. The Global Fund has been an invaluable partner to Malawi since 2003, supporting our nation’s development agenda by contributing tirelessly to our healthcare system and in the fight against these three diseases but also coming to our rescue when the COVID Pandemic hit us,” said the President adding that the “grant will not only consolidate the gains we’ve made over the years, it will also strengthen and accelerate our national response to HIV, tuberculosis, and malaria.”

He added, “With these grants, we have procured ambulances and utility vehicles, procured gas plants and modern hospital equipment such as CT scans, and we have recruited thousands of health care workers. I am therefore highly indebted to the Global Fund for this support. Even so, we acknowledge that there is still a lot of work to be done. Hence, this Grant Cycle 7 will enable us to build on these achievements, ensuring that our healthcare system is more resilient, efficient, and the services accessible to all Malawians.”

The President wrapped up his remarks by affirming that his government will steadfastly prioritize health as a cornerstone of the national development agenda.

He emphasized that a healthy population is the bedrock of sustainable development and economic growth.

The Ministry of Health and World Vision Malawi are the primary custodians of these crucial funds.

In November 2014, the media was flooded with alarming reports of Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) clashing with then-First Lady Getrude Mutharika.

The CSOs demanded an immediate refund of approximately MK15 million (US$30,000) that Mutharika, through her Beautify Malawi (Beam) Trust and the tribal group Mulhako wa Alhomwe, had siphoned from the National Aids Commission (NAC).

These funds, intended for HIV/AIDS initiatives, were misappropriated to finance activities unrelated to the pandemic, a blatant misuse of Global Fund resources during an era marked by impunity.

Development

ActionAid hands over Global Funds’ COVID-19 PPEs to Malawi partners

Maravi Post Reporter

LILONGWE-(MaraviPost)-ActionAid Malawi on Wednesday, June 15, 2022 handed over COVID-19 Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs) to its partners under its Global Fund COVID-19 Response Mechanism (C19RM) project.

The PPEs worth US$1 million (MK1 billion) including bicycles, hand washing facilities, soap, reusable masks and sanitizers.

C19RM Program Manager, Dalitso Kuphanga said the project is supporting countries to mitigate the impact of Covid-19 on programs to fight HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis (TB) and Malaria and initiates urgent improvements in health and community systems.

Kuphanga said the Ministry of Health, which is the C19RM Principal Recipient, sub granted ActionAid about US$7.2 million (MK7.2 billion), part of which the organization used to procure the PPEs.

“The PPEs will go a long way in supporting our volunteers working at community level in HIV/AIDS, TB and Malaria interventions.

We will be working with our structures at community and district levels, which include Community Based Organizations, networks for TB, networks for people living with HIV/AIDS and volunteers. These also support the structures of the Ministry of Health and those belonging to the sub sub recipients.

We will make sure that all these are part of the process of distribution of the PPEs so they are able to follow up if the equipment reach the intended beneficiaries and used for the intended purpose,” Kuphanga said.

The five Sub Sub Recipients are: The creative Centre for Community Mobilization (CRECCOM), SRHR Africa (SAT), Family Planning Association of Malawi (FPAM), Malawi Network of People Living with HIV (MANET+) and the Episcopal Conference of Malawi (ECM).

Country Director for SAT, Robert Phiri therefore commended ActionAid Malawi for the PPEs, saying they will help communities better respond to the Covid-19 pandemic and the impact it is having on the fight against other diseases.

“The PPEs are crucial. Communities need to have the actual equipment they can use for prevention,” Phiri said.

Manager for Global Fund and GAVI project implementation unit in the Ministry of Health, Doreen Sanje, said her office expects that the items will reach the intended beneficiaries and used for the intended purpose.

“We are grants managers for Global Fund and GAVI resources. The MK7.2 billion we sub granted ActionAid is from the US$109 million (MK109 billion) which Malawi received in 2020 for the support of various Covid-19 interventions.

“We need to properly manage these resources in order to reach out to as many communities as possible,” Sanje said.

ActionAid Malawi, the C19RM Sub Recipient, is leading the implementation of the non-biomedical response in conjunction with five Sub Sub Recipients, to which it handed over the PPEs. These work with the support of CSOs, coordinating bodies, district and community structures.