Hon. Amobi Ogah Vows To Ensure Accountability Of Global Fund Against ATM | READ MORE

The Chairman, House Committee on HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis, Malaria (ATM) Control, Hon. Amobi Ogah has promised Nigerians that the funds earmarked for the fight against HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (ATM) in Nigeria, will be judiciously utilized.

The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria had approved $9.2 billion as grants starting this year to support more than 70 countries to continue their lifesaving work to end the three epidemics and build sustainable and climate-resilient systems for health over the 2024-2026 period with Nigeria getting over 933 million dollars which will be shared among the stakeholders.

Ogah made this promise today at the launch of Cycle-7 grant of Global Fund to Nigeria. He said " It is indeed remarkable to note that Global Fund has committed over 4.6 Billion US dollars in grants to support the fight against HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria in Nigeria.

"With the launch of the next cycle of funding, which has an implementation period of January 1, 2024 to December 31, 2026, today, I am convinced that there is a greater will by Government and key stakeholders to provide the willingness and commitment to ensure community systems and their structures are strengthened, resourced and empowered.

"Consequently, our country will no doubt attain all targets that has been established in the fight against HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria by the year 2030.

"It is the resolve of the Committee on ATM to oversight every fund that has been budgeted for the fight against HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria in our country to ensure that every kobo spent is accounted for. The Committee will stand on its constitutional mandate to demand that every fund released from 2002 to date are accounted for by MDA's and other key stakeholders. We must ensure that it will no longer be business as usual.

"It might interest you to know that since assuming the Leadership of the Committee on ATM, we have hit the ground running in setting an agenda for our committee and also the agencies under our purview. We have maintained that there is a need for us to step up our game. To that effect, we have called for the treatment of Malaria to be made free at all Government Hospitals across all levels. A resolution to this effect has been passed in the House of Representatives and it is expected that part of the oil subsidy removal funds should be used for this purpose thereby, reducing our dependence on foreign grants.

"We are also alarmed at the frightening rate of fake and substandard anti malaria drugs in circulation in Nigeria and the House of Representatives has mandated the committee to conduct a baseline survey on Fake Anti malaria drugs across the six geo-political zones of the country. By the time we conclude this process, I can assure you that the perpetrators of fake anti malaria drugs will pack their bags and leave our country.

"For our democracy to thrive and for us to deepen our mutual relationship which is based on collaboration and partnership, propose the building of capacity of members of Parliament by Global Fund through capacity building workshops, training and retreats. It is clear that there are inherent capacity deficits within
our Parliaments, therefore efforts to scale up capacity of our Parliamentarians will go a long way in providing them with the requisite tools needed to function effectively and efficiently.

"Still on the issue of mutual collaboration and trust, I strongly believe that the National Assembly should have a representation in the Country Coordinating Mechanism of our Country going forward.

"We know that a healthy Nation should also be a wealthy Nation as the saying goes, therefore in the area of funding we must put our money where our Health is involved. As representatives of Government and the people, I believe it is unacceptable that a greater percentage of funding for our fight against HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria come from foreign partners. We must consciously and systematically bridge this funding gap to at least 50%. We in the Parliament will continue to provide the constitutional approvals for the allocation of resources towards our Health needs. We will also collaborate with relevant stakeholders and foreign partners and Donor agencies alike to ensure we attain mutual targets