The team led by Adda Faye, Chief Finance Officer, the Global Fund, was received at the Banjul International Airport by Dr Omar Jah, permanent secretary at the Ministry of Health, and other senior officials from the Ministry.
Speaking to journalists shortly on arrival, Adda Faye, Chief Finance Officer, the Global Fund to Fight Aids, Tuberculosis and Malaria, informed that they are in the country to launch their grant for the next three years.
“For those who don’t know Global Fund, it is a fund that provide grants to countries mostly in Africa to fight HIV, Tuberculosis and Malaria,” she explained. “The partnership with the Republic of The Gambia has been ongoing for the past 20 years. This is a very important milestone because it is the first time we are starting to re-launch grants post-pandemic and we all know the impact of Covid and health in the economy of the people. So, we are here for the people of this country.”
While thanking the government through President Barrow, the Global Fund official recalled that over the last 20 years, the Global Fund in partnership with the Government of The Gambia, has invested over US$200 million in the country’s health sector,
This huge investment, she added, has gone a long way in improving the health and livelihood of Gambians especially in malaria.
Faye also spoke about their other interventions in the country, adding that 2024 is very important for them in their quest to strengthen health care services.
She spoke about their investment in providing oxygen plants for people in need at the hospitals, lab system strengthening and community health workers. This, she added, will also form part of their discussion with the Gambian leader, President Barrow, today at State House.
Caty Faal Sow, Department Head for Africa and Middle East, Global Fund, thanked the Ministry’s officials for the warm welcome accorded them, adding that they’ve been working with the team in The Gambia over the last two decades.
She thus expressed optimism that the new partnership will deliver even more impact than it has in the past.
Bai Cham, executive secretary, Country Coordinating Mechanism (CCM) for Global Fund funded programmes in The Gambia, acknowledged that Global Fund has been investing in the country’s health sector for the last 20 years.
This, he said, has enabled the country to stabilise the prevalence of HIV, adding that “the country is also on the path” to eliminating malaria in the country.
“In terms of TB, we are increasing diagnostic and effective treatment and we hope that with this new investment, our health systems will be further strengthened to the extent that access to quality health care will be provided across the country.”
Earlier on, Dr Omar Jah, permanent secretary at the Ministry of Health, who welcomed the delegation on behalf of the minister, acknowledged the strategic support of Global Fund, saying The Gambia is really appreciative of their support in strengthening the country’s health care systems.
“As a government, we really appreciate the work and collaboration we are having with the Global Fund,” he said.
PS Jah disclosed that a lot of support has been trickling into the country these past years, which has impacted significantly on the grassroots in strengthening the country’s health care system.
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