Global Fund Executive Director Peter Sands/HANDOUT An international organisation has sought President William Ruto's help to mobilise funds across the world for reinforcing global solidarity to end HIV, Tuberculosis and malaria.
In a letter addressed to Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi, the Global Fund has requested President William Ruto to help them, using his connections to do fundraisers across the world for them.
Global Fund Executive Director Peter Sands, in his letter, asked the president to aid the organisation during its Eighth Replenishment noting that it comes at a crucial moment, when external funding for health is under severe threat.
"With your commitment and the leadership President Ruto, I am confident we can deliver a successful Eighth Replenishment. This will enable the Global Fund to continue supporting Kenya and other countries across the continent in saving lives, defeating HIV, TB, and malaria, and advancing UHC," said Sands.
The Global Fund is a partnership between governments, civil society, the private sector, and people affected by these diseases.
The CEO noted that given the current global challenges, it was more important than ever that there was a need to work together to ensure continued progress in reducing the burden of HIV, tuberculosis (TB), and malaria and in strengthening health systems across Africa.
He noted that for more than 20 years, Kenya and the Global Fund had built an immensely successful partnership, with the Global Fund having invested over Sh300 billion (US$ 2.3 billion) in Kenya.
During this period, Kenya has made great strides in the fight against the three diseases and in advancing towards universal health coverage (UHC).
"It would be an unthinkable tragedy to see this progress stall, let alone be reversed. It is in this context that we respectfully request the support of His Excellency President Ruto and yourself as champions of the Global Fund’s Eighth Replenishment," the letter reads.
The letter lauded Kenya’s outstanding role as a co-host of the Preparatory Meeting for the Seventh Replenishment in 2022.
It termed it as instrumental in mobilising a historic US$ 15.7 billion, reinforcing global solidarity to end HIV, TB, and malaria.
"This total included Kenya’s pledge of US$ 10.0 million, a powerful signal of the country’s commitment to global health and sustainable financing. Kenya’s unwavering leadership has been central to the success of our partnership, saving millions of lives and advancing our shared mission," said the Global Fund request
During the side event on Domestic Health Financing in the just concluded African Union (AU) meeting in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, President Ruto emphasized that African countries must accelerate the shift towards nationally led and financed health systems, reducing reliance on external support.
However, Sands noted that this is a pathway, not a switch.
"Too abrupt a transition risks derailing progress, leaving millions behind, and costing millions of lives. Moreover, countries across Africa are at different stages of readiness to assume these financial responsibilities," he said.
The Global Fund, he said, plays a crucial role as a trusted and reliable partner, supporting Kenya and
countries across the continent in saving lives, reducing the burden of disease, and building nationally led and financed health systems.
"For this replenishment to be a success, we need the voices of President Ruto and CS Mudavadi. As always—but particularly in the current geopolitical context—the most powerful advocacy is direct communication from Head of State to Head of State."
