Global Fund pledges $574m to Malawi for Aids fight –Minister

Global Fund has pledged a total USD574 million to Malawi in order to help the country ably fight against Malaria, Tuberculosis and Hiv and Aids, the country’s health minister has disclosed.

Minister of Health Jean Kalirani disclosed at a news conference on Monday on return from Switzerland where the Malawi delegation had a meeting with Global Fund Director Dr Mark Dybul.

“The meeting was held in a very friendly and cordial environment. Let me thank His Excellency Professor Peter Mutharika for allowing the delegation to travel and also Dr Dybul and his entire executive staff at the Global Fund for welcoming us very warmly in Geneva,” said Kalirani.

Observers say government sent a delegation on a fire-fighting  mission  over pressure exerted on National Aids Commission to get back the money that the institution gave to Beautify Malawi Trust (BEAM) and Mulhako wa Alhomwe which were given controversially.

But Davie Kalomba NAC acting executive Director said the trip had nothing to do with NAC grants.

He said the trip to Geneva was arranged “in order to provide the senior management with an update on the performance improvement plans submitted to the Global Gund by Malawi’s two principal recipients these are NAC and Ministry of Health.”

Kalomba added: “On top of that the delegation was to inform Global Fund about additional safe guards and risk mitigation measures that will be undertaken to restore confidence in Malawi financial management and oversight.”

During the news conference,  Kalirani said Malawi Government has committed USD30 million towards national response to fight the three diseases HIV and Aids, Tuberculosis and Malaria.

Kalirani said she had a chance to meet United Nations Aids boss Michael Sidibe who is said to have commended Malawi for the concrete actions taken in restoration of credibility in the sustainable and accountable management of HIV and Aids resources.

But in an interview, executive director of Malawi Network of Religious Leaders living with Aids,  Reverend Mac Donald Sembereka said there is nothing new which the delegation has brought, saying the money in question was pledged under the previous PP administration.

“The issues that we need  to have been telling Malawians is whether Malawi as a country has put enough safeguards to avert further misdirection of resources to ineligible entities though there is no solace that NAC is the principle recipient of Global Fund money,” said Sembereka.