FG announces plan to borrow $300m to eliminate malaria

-
The Federal Government is to secure a US$300 million from the World Bank, Islamic Development
Bank and African Development Bank to eliminate malaria in the country.
This is contained in a statement issued by the African Leaders Malaria Alliance (ALMA) on the
Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting 2018 just ended in London. The government said in
the statement that it would elevate malaria on the national priority list and finance its national
malaria elimination strategy.
The statement said Nigeria also pledged an additional US$18.7 million to leverage US$37 million from
the Global Fund to distribute 15 million mosquito nets and to support the local manufacture of
essential malaria commodities. It said that ALMA applauds the commitment by 53 Commonwealth
leaders to halve malaria across the Commonwealth nations within the next five years. It said the
game-changing commitment followed the Malaria Summit, where leaders from malaria-affected
countries, businesses, donors and Commonwealth leaders to get ready to beat the scourge of
malaria.
The statement said the commitment from the Commonwealth has the potential to prevent 350 million
malaria cases and save 650,000 lives. It added 90 per cent of global malaria cases and deaths occur
on the African continent and the impact of this renewed focus to eliminate malaria will be felt across
the continent. The statement noted that apart from the commitment from Nigeria, 11 African
countries in the Commonwealth announced new commitment and affirmed their determination to
eliminate malaria. It enumerated the countries to include Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique,
Namibia, United Republic of Tanzania, The Gambia, Uganda, Rwanda and Zambia. The statement
added that ALMA further committed to the African Union’s (AU) Catalytic Framework to end AIDS,
TB and Eliminate Malaria by 2030.
Besides, it said that the AU was also committed to supporting member countries to introduce and
strengthen the use of national and sub-national malaria scorecards and action trackers, with robust
community engagement to support increased domestic funding. According to the statement, AU will
continue its work with Heads of State and Government in Africa to monitor progress towards this
goal.
“Additional commitments from the international community includes the UK Government’s
commitment to spend £500 million a year through 2020-2021 and an extra £100 million
commitment to the Global Fund. The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation also announced an
additional US$1 billion through 2023 to fund research and development to reduce the burden of
malaria. In addition, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation pledged £50 million in matching funds
against the UK Government’s additional £100 commitment to the Global Fund,’’ it said.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Dear Osibanjo 10 days is such a long time, sack all the service chiefs today, replace them within 24hrs, defend our constitution and defect to a new party' - Facebook User

-
Image
Following the invasion of the National Assembly by DSS operaties today and the subsequent dismisal of agency's director general by the acting president, Yemi Osinbajo a Facebook user has urged the VP to do more. According to Chidozie Dike, 'Dear Prof Osibanjo, 10 days is such a long time, sack all the service chiefs today and replace all of them within 24hrs, defend our constitution, the rule of law and separation of powers, save Nigeria, uphold your already damaged image, profession and integrity. Defect to a new political party. History will never forget you and will forever be kind to your generation unborn. Such opportunities comes once in a life time'.
Read more

Boko Haram Ambush Passengers, Release Muslims, Detain Christians

-
Image
  ISWAP,  a deadly faction of the now-depleted Boko Haram Insurgents on Tuesday ambushed passengers on the Maiduguri- Tamsu Kawu-Ngamdu-Damaturu road. Naija News gathered that the terrorists abducted several passengers aboard eight commercial and private vehicles near a bridge between Tamsu Kawu and Ndamdu town at about 3PM. Multiple sources told Vanguard that most of the passengers were later taken to a river where they were released after reciting some verses in the Muslim faith, accept three persons suspected to be Christian’s who failed to do so, as they were detained at the time other victims were asked to go back. Speaking to one of the victim who doesn’t want his name mentioned. He said, “it was when I was interrogated and the terrorists learnt that I was a diabetic patient, coupled with my old age that saved me, as the Commander of the terrorists told his members to allow me join those who were set free at about 7pm.” He revealed that the terrorists during interrogatio...
Read more