HIV/AIDS: Foundation, CSOs want China to raise contribution to global fund
NAN-HG-10
HIV/AIDs
By Talatu Maiwada
Abuja, May 18, 2017 (NAN) AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF), an NGO, and other Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) in Nigeria have appealed to China to increase to one billion dollars its contribution to global funding to combat HIV, tuberculosis and malaria.
Mrs Oluwakemi Gbadamosi, AHF, Senior Manager, Public Relation and Communications, African Bureau, made the appeal while briefing newsmen on Thursday in Abuja.
The theme of the event was “China be generous, pledge one billion dollar to the global fund to fight AIDs, tuberculosis and malaria’’.
Gbadamosi appreciated the international donor community for its contribution to the global fund with 12.9 billion dollars raised to curb AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria.
She said that at the fifth replenishment cycle, China, which was the second largest economy in the world, only pledged 18 million dollars.
The AHF official said that Japan and UK, who are the third and fifth largest economies, pledged 800 million and 171 million dollars, respectively.
According to her, China makes a lot of money from its trade and investment deals in Africa but has continued to perform ‘abysmally’ in funding global public health issues.
“As the world’s second largest economy, an increased contribution commensurate with China’s size would offer it a greater level of involvement and stature in addressing global health issues.
“We urge the global fund secretariat to open an ongoing high-level dialogue with the government of China in an effort to explore opportunities to increase its contribution.
“Our request is simply China do the right thing by pledging one billion dollars to the global fund,’’ Gbadamosi said.
Also speaking, Mr Moses Okpara, National Secretary, Youth Network on HIV/AIDS in Nigeria, said civil society engagement was the foundation of global funds around the world.
He said the unique collaboration between the community based organisations and the fund helps transform financial resources into life saving programmes.
“Without the global fund, civil societies would not be able to achieve impressive gains that have been attained to date against the three epidemics.
“CSOs play a vital role in complementing national strategies and interventions in HIV, TB and malaria response.
“We are able to link the hard reach populations and vulnerable communities to health facilities.
“However, we urge respective countries benefiting from the global fund to scale up support for civil organisations involved in community interventions,’’ Okpara said.
In the same vein, Mr Isah Mohammed, Coordinator, Association for Positive Youths in Nigeria (APYIN), appealed to the Nigerian government to tow the path of South Africa by taking ownership of its HIV/AIDS response.
“Our over dependency on foreign donors has lasted longer than it is accepted and Nigeria has the resources to take responsibility for its citizenry.
“Now is the time to create an AIDS Trust Fund, Now is the time to increase domestic funding.
“If countries like Zimbabwe and South Africa can fund their response, there is no justification for Nigeria not to do same,’’ Mohammed said. (NAN)
TIM/AOS/MST
Edited by Bayo Sekoni/Muhammad Suleiman Tola