Italy deputy minister of foreign affairs, Emanuela Del Re
from ADANE BIKILA in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
ADDIS ABABA, (CAJ News) – EFFORTS to fight AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria in the African continent have received a major financial boost after Italy pledged to contribute €161 million (about R2,7 billion) towards the cause.
The funds will be disbursed over the next three years with Ethiopia, Mozambique and Sudan being the priority.
Emanuela Del Re, Italy’s Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, said the contribution to the Global Fund was confirmation of Italy’s commitment to the health sector.
The official said this would assist achieve the target of eradicating the three diseases by 2030 and save 16 million lives over the next three years.
“Health, especially of women, youth, children and the most vulnerable groups, is a key condition for development. The Italian Cooperation Service thus proves its will to continue playing an important role on the global scene,” Del Re said.
Italy’s pledge responds to the call launched by the Global Fund to collect US$14 billion (R215 billion), from 2021 to 2023, to prevent 234 million infections or new cases, reduce inequalities and strengthen the health care systems of developing countries.
The Global Fund has contributed to saving 27 million lives and to reducing by a third the number of deaths caused by AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria in recent years.
– CAJ News