Global Fund has given Malawi close to $450 million (about K323 billion) in grant for the country’s fight against Tuberculosis (TB), HIV and Aids and malaria programmes that promote access to free medicine.
The funds are coming in the country at a time when the health sector is grappling with drug shortage with most districts operating well beyond their annual drug budgets.
The money is meant for the period between January 1 2018 and December 31 2020.
The fund’s team has been in the country for almost two weeks meeting government and National Aids Commission (Nac) officials apart from other stakeholders.
Treasury Spokesperson Alfred Kutengule while confirming the upshot said the allocation is slightly lower than what was received in the last two years.
Malawi, he said, will be getting $150 million (about 108 billion) per annum within the estimated period.
“At present, Malawi has $330 million over two years representing $165 million per annum. So, the current allocation is slightly lower than the allocation in the last two years.
“However, Malawi is eligible to apply for Catalytic Funding: $7 million for programmes supporting Adolescent Girls and Young Women and $3 million for data systems in health. Malawi will also apply for additional resources in the Prioritised Above Allocation Request (PAAR),” Kutengule said in an email response on Tuesday evening.
He said out of the allocation $364 million has been allocated to HIV and Aids fight, $15 million is for TB treatment and $70 million is for malaria.
“The Global Fund grants will focus on ensuring that there are adequate health commodities including drugs and other supplies to prevent and treat Aids, TB and malaria. The Global Fund Grant will also finance the next Nets Campaign to prevent malaria transmission,” he said.
Health Minister, Peter Kumpalume, said Malawi has achieved more than what other countries have done, hence the confidence from Global Fund.
“We have done far much better that many other countries. Malawi is perhaps the best in the fight against HIV and Aids, TB and malaria in the world considering results,” Kumpalume said.
Kumpalume said structures are already in place to ensure prudence in management of the funds.
As of December 2015, the total number of people receiving antiretroviral therapy increased to 595,186 from 3,000 in 2003, according to information on the fund’s website, while TB treatment success rate reached 83 percent by the end of 2014.
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