The Federal Government of Nigeria has officially launched the Global Fund Grant Cycle-7, targeting the implementation periods of 2024-2026.

The grant, totaling $933,156,931, will focus on addressing three critical diseases: HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria.

The Coordinating Minister for Health and Social Welfare at the Federal Ministry of Health, Prof. Ali Pate, emphasized the importance of the program for the people of Nigeria.

As the Chairman of the Country Coordinating Mechanism, Pate highlighted the grant’s role in supporting the government’s efforts against the epidemics of HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria.

“This grant is crucial in supporting the government’s efforts against the epidemics of HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria. It will also contribute to building a resilient and sustainable health system for pandemic preparedness, ensuring health security for all citizens, especially vulnerable populations such as women and children under five years old,” said Pate.

The funds from the Global Fund Grant Cycle-7 will support interventions in 13 priority states in Nigeria for malaria, 4 comprehensive states for HIV/AIDS, and all 36 states plus the FCT will benefit from the tuberculosis grant.

It will also contribute to health system strengthening in all 36 states plus FCT and 5 states with health insurance for vulnerable groups.

The funds are allocated to various programs, including HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis, Malaria, and Resilient and Sustainable System for Health initiatives.

The eight principal recipients nominated for the grant include National Agency for the Control of AIDS, National AIDS and STDs Control Programme-FMOH, National Tuberculosis, Leprosy; Buruli Ulcer Control Programme-FMOH, Institute for Virology Nigeria, National Malaria Elimination Programme-FMOH, Catholic Relief Services, Lagos State Ministry of Health, and National Tuberculosis, Leprosy; Buruli Ulcer Control Programme-FMOH RSSH.*

Pate emphasized the strategic focus on strengthening health systems, particularly laboratory systems, for surveillance, diagnostics, and quality assurance.

He called upon states to take leadership and ownership of the process to ensure sustainability.

“Specifically, during the grant period from now till 2026, we will increase PMCT services, using the primary health care system. We will also scale the case notification rate for all forms of TB and sustain the current success rate beyond the initial target of 90% and enroll 100% of drug-resistant TB on appropriate treatment,” added Pate.

Acknowledging the collaboration with the Global Fund, Pate highlighted the initiative to retrain up to 120,000 frontline workers in the coming periods, aligning with the target of 95-95-95 by 2025.