The Delegation of DFID and the Global Fund acclaimed Ethiopia's effort to expand essential Health Services

The delegation of DFID and the Global Fund acclaimed Ethiopia's effort to expand essential health services

Addis Ababa, July 20, 2012               

From 17 July through 19, 2012, a delegation of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (GFATM) as well as Department for International Development (DFID) visited Ethiopia.

The delegation consisted General Manager of the GFATM Gabriel Jarmarillio, Chari of the GFATM Board Simon Bland, and DFID's Parliamentary Under Secretary of State Stephen O'Brien.  

During the visit, the delegation met with Ethiopia's high-level officials including Minister of Health, Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. They also made a field trip to Tigray Regional State, Wokro, Nejashi Gemeda locality to see the different levels of the health system including the health development armies. Representing the delegation, General Manager of the GFAM Gabriel Jarmarillio acclaimed Ethiopia's effort to make use of GAFTM fund in expanding essential health services and putting in place sustainable health system that can reach more people in far remote areas of the country. The delegation met with local authorities and key GFATM partner organizations while in country. 

According to the Minister of Health, Dr. Tedros Adhanom, Ethiopia has achieved tremendous results at the country level by using the global fund to its full potential, in synergy with other efforts to scale up effective coverage and services, and with commitment to universal access to HIV prevention, treatment, care and support. Tedros uttered the flexible and performance-based financing models of global health initiatives, such as the Global Fund have great impact to make a real difference to health services and to peoples lives.

The delegation from the Global Fund approved additional grant to Ethiopia's HIV/AIDS and Malaria programs, accordingly signed an agreement to donate 424 million USD.

On the signing of the agreement, Tedros highlighted the importance to further strengthen partnership with global initiatives and finance mechanisms to build a health system and create results. "We are working hard to make use of these instruments and all the resources at our disposal in reaching more of our communities with essential health services and putting in place an effective national health system that can not only save many more lives now, but is also better able to fight for the future", Tedros said.

The Minister noted that Ethiopian Government has demonstrated strong commitment to prevent and treat HIV/AIDS and Malaria and simultaneously taking on the challenges to improve the health system in the country. "There is simply no alternative to increased and more harmonized investments in an integrated health system strengthening approach. We must build our health systems as we continue to expand access to both basic health care and life-saving prevention and treatment interventions against the main killers," Tedros pronounced. He further explained that harmonisation of global and national functions of the Fund will strengthen the health system and make it possible to reach the Millennium Development Goals. 

The Global Fund is a unique, public-private partnership and international financing institution dedicated to attracting and disbursing additional resources to prevent and treat HIV and AIDS, TB and malaria. Ethiopia has received more than one third of its fund allocation since the inception of the Global Fund in 2002. Ethiopia's Minister of Health, Dr. Tewodros Adhanom Ghebreyesus chaired the Global Fund for AIDS, TB and Malaria Board for two years from 2009 to 2011.

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