June 6, 2023 (DJIBOUTI-VILLE, Djibouti): The Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) Executive Secretary, Dr Workneh Gebeyehu has held discussion with Linden Morrison, head of High Impact Africa II of Global Fund and senior portfolio manager of Global Fund Country team to Ethiopia and IGAD, on the implementation of the Global Fund supported regional grant, at IGAD Head Quarter, in Djibouti, today.
The Executive secretary acknowledges the results achieved in improvement in availability and utilization of TB-HIV services in the refugee settings as a result of the Global support. Furthermore, he told the Global Fund team that IGAD values and appreciates the partnership with Global Fund, UNHCR and other humanitarian organizations operating in the refugee camps /settlements. Considering the need to sustain the gains and the conflicts in the region which results displacement of population and disruption of health services, the Executive secretary requested the support of the Global Fund to continue and even increased to the level of the current humanitarian crisis due war and conflict in the region.
IGAD Director for Health and Social Development Division Madam Fathia Allwan also expressed her gratitude for the Fund’s support.
It is stated on the occasion that IGAD is a principal recipient of Global Fund grants and has received three HIV-TB grants since October 2016. These grants amount to US$ 23.9 Million.
The grants focused on strengthening the capacity of TB- MDR diagnosis and provision of integrated TB-HIV services in the refugee settings in Eastern and Horn of Africa.
The first two grants were successfully implemented and significantly contributed to the improvement in TB detection and treatment outcome. The third on going TB-C19RM grant is a continuation grant which also targets refugees and cross border points with a similar objective of the second grant. Like the first two, this one is also by IGAD, UNHCR, Kenya Red Cross Society and Refugee service and Returnee, Ethiopia.
