Dar es Salaam - The Global Fund Executive Director, Mr. Peter Sands, was received in Tanzania for a two-day official visit that builds up towards the seventh Global Fund Replenishment conference set for 19 -21 September 2022 in the United States.

During his visit, the Executive Director had an opportunity to meet Her Excellency President Samia Suluhu Hassan, Ministers of Health, Finance and Planning, President's Office Regional Administration and Local Government (PORALG); the Tanzania National Coordinating Mechanism (TNCM) Chair; Non-State Actors representatives; and the UN Heads of Agencies.

Tanzania is privileged to have the Head of State as one of the champions for the replenishment and for taking part to show case the impact that the Global Fund has made in the fight of three diseases (HIV, tuberculosis and malaria) and strengthening health systems.

The Acting WHO Country Representative, Dr. Zabulon Yoti hosted the meeting with the UN family in the WHO Country Office premises, led by the UN Resident Coordinator, Mr. Zlatan Milišić.  In attendance to meet the Executive Director and delegation were the Heads of UNAIDS, UN Women and UNICEF accompanied by senior government officials from the Ministry of Health and PORALG.

In his welcome remarks, the UN Resident Coordinator thanked the Global Fund for its close collaboration with the UN in Tanzania and its contribution towards ending the epidemics of AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria and combating other diseases including COVID-19.  “The UN values the Global Fund as a strategic partner in the implementation of its Cooperation Framework. We look forward to continue working together to sustain progress made by building on current successes and scale up”, said Zlatan.

Highlighting the need for continued investment, Dr. Yoti said, “The Global Fund’s support for HIV, TB, Malaria and health system strengthening has gone a long way in the country towards provision of quality services, however more investments are needed within the six building blocks (and in particular, strengthening procurement, supply chain management, and strategic information) so that the country’s health system is more resilient in the face of the current pandemic and other threats that may present in the future”.

Citing the example of Malaria, Dr. Yoti added “Tanzania is among the 3 countries in the sub region that contributed the highest numbers of cases (Global Malaria Report, 2021), and we recently witnessed the presences across the border in Rwanda of artemisinin-resistant malaria parasites. All this calls for more strategic and innovative shifts to tackle the malaria epidemic”.

The UNAIDS Representative in Tanzania, Dr Martin Odiit, echoed similar sentiments and commended the Global Fund’s agility of response, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic which contributed to ensuring continuity of essential services. He also called for the need to support the full 7th replenishment of the Global Fund to supplement the Tanzania’s efforts and other countries’ effort to end AIDS.

Responding positively to remarks from the UN family, Mr. Sands, appreciated the Government of Tanzania for fostering an environment that allows for constructive engagement with non-government actors and development partners including the United Nations to help close the gap. “This approach enables greater involvement and representation of the at risk and affected communities and accountability for the Global Fund resources. It is an achievement that needs to be replicated in other health and development programmes”.

Urging support for replenishment, Mr. Sands emphasized that, “We have made progress, but we still have a lot to do. The good news is that in Tanzania, we have the ingredients for success. It is undeniable that world demands, needs are many but funding the Global Fund makes sense for the world because with infectious diseases there is no middle ground”.

The Executive Director’s visit is part of the campaign for the Seventh Replenishment which is now fully underway. For the 2023-25 period, the Global Fund is asking for at least US$18 billion. This is the minimum required to get the world back on track towards ending HIV, TB, and malaria, to build resilient and sustainable health systems and strengthen pandemic preparedness, making the world more equitable and safer from future threats.