Global Fund Announces Emergency Funding to Maintain Essential Health Services in Northern Ethiopia Amid Conflict – Press Releases

Global Fund declares emergency funding to take care of essential health services in northern Ethiopia amid conflict

August 08, 2024

– The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (Global Fund) has approved US$2.5 million in emergency financing to support the acquisition of essential goods and services related to HIV, tuberculosis and malaria within the conflict-affected Tigray, Amhara and Afar regions of northern Ethiopia.

The funding shall be implemented for one 12 months – from 1 September 2024 to 30 August 2025 – through an independent grant managed by UNICEF, the predominant grant recipient, and the World Health Organization (WHO), a sub-grant recipient.

“Ensuring that patients affected by conflict in northern Ethiopia can continue to access preventive and treatment services is our top priority,” said Mark Edington, head of grant management on the Global Fund. “We are leveraging the access and presence of our trusted partners, UNICEF and WHO, in conflict-affected regions to provide essential services to those in need. The Global Fund remains steadfast in its commitment to supporting countries and communities responding to conflict-related health crises.”

The conflict in northern Ethiopia has affected Global Fund-supported programs within the Tigray, Amhara, Afar, and Benishangul-Gumuz regions. These 4 regions account for 36 percent of Ethiopia’s total population and 40 percent of individuals living with HIV, 19 percent of tuberculosis cases, and 47 percent of malaria cases within the country. Services to people in these regions have been disrupted by conflict and other security concerns.

Even after the signing of the Cessation of Hostilities Agreement (CoHA) greater than a 12 months ago, the results of the conflict proceed to cause critical problems related to service delivery, access to care, and shortages of medicines. Destruction and/or looting of health facilities and limited access to primary health care and medical resources have led to a rise in preventable diseases, including malaria and HIV, which pose a serious threat to public health. In addition, the conflict has caused significant disruption to disease control programs and provide chain management of essential medicines.

The $2.5 million in emergency funding complements greater than $441 million in three latest grants launched last June by the Global Fund and the Ethiopian Ministry of Health to support progress within the fight against HIV, tuberculosis and malaria, and strengthen health systems and communities across the country between 2024 and 2027.

Since 2003, the Global Fund has invested $3 billion in Ethiopia to support the country’s fight against HIV, tuberculosis and malaria, construct more resilient and sustainable health systems, and protect existing achievements within the face of conflict, mass displacement, food insecurity and severe drought.