The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria has called on President William Ruto to leverage his global connections to spearhead fundraising efforts aimed at reinforcing global solidarity in the battle against HIV, TB, and malaria.
In a letter addressed to Dr. Musalia Mudavadi, the Prime Cabinet Secretary, and Cabinet Secretary for Foreign and Diaspora Affairs, the Global Fund has formally requested President Ruto’s support in mobilizing resources for its Eighth Replenishment.
This plea comes at a critical moment, as external funding for global health initiatives faces increasing challenges.
Peter Sands, the Executive Director of the Global Fund, highlighted the importance of this replenishment, which is crucial for sustaining efforts to combat these deadly diseases and strengthen health systems, particularly in Africa.
“With your commitment and the leadership of President Ruto, I am confident we can achieve a successful Eighth Replenishment. This will enable the Global Fund to continue supporting Kenya and other countries in the fight against HIV, TB, and malaria, while advancing Universal Health Coverage (UHC),” Sands said in the letter.
The letter emphasized the need for heightened global collaboration to ensure continued progress in fighting the three diseases.
Sands pointed to Kenya’s longstanding partnership with the Global Fund, which has seen more than Sh. 300 billion (US$ 2.3 billion) invested in Kenya over the past two decades.
These funds have significantly contributed to Kenya’s success in addressing HIV, TB, and malaria, as well as its progress toward 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 read.
The Global Fund also commended Kenya’s leadership role during the Preparatory Meeting for the Seventh Replenishment in 2022, which helped mobilize a historic US$ 15.7 billion in support of global health.
Kenya’s pledge of US$ 10 million during this meeting underscored the country’s dedication to advancing global health financing.
During the recently concluded African Union (AU) meeting in Addis Ababa, President Ruto reiterated Africa’s need to accelerate the transition toward nationally led and financed health systems.
However, Sands cautioned that such a shift must be gradual.
“Too abrupt a transition risks derailing progress, leaving millions behind, and costing millions of lives. Countries across Africa are at different stages of readiness to assume these financial responsibilities,” Sands warned.
The Global Fund reiterated that its role remains vital in supporting African nations, including Kenya, as they work toward self-sufficient health systems while continuing to tackle health challenges like HIV, TB, and malaria.
“To ensure the success of this replenishment, we need the voices of President Ruto and CS Mudavadi.In the current geopolitical climate, the most powerful advocacy comes from direct communication between heads of state,” concluded the letter.
With global health facing unprecedented challenges, the call for President Ruto’s leadership comes as the world rallies to protect the hard-won progress in the fight against these diseases, ensuring that millions of lives can be saved.
