International Grant for Sudan to Treat Immunodeficiency, Tuberculosis, and Malaria
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The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria has provided Sudan with a grant of 170 million to cover the costs of treating immunodeficiency, tuberculosis, and malaria over a period of three years from 2024 to 2026.
According to a statement, the Global Fund signed grant agreements with the United Nations Childrens Fund (UNICEF) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) last Thursday, totaling 170 million for the period from 2024 to 2026 to support individuals affected by HIV, tuberculosis, and malaria and to assist in building resilient and sustainable healthcare systems. Both UNICEF and UNDP will work closely with the Federal Ministry of Health in partnership.
The agreements signed by the Global Fund include three agreements with UNICEF and two with UNDP.
The majority of the grant, amounting to 118 million according to the grant agreement signed between the Global Fund and UNICEF, will go towards combating malaria and will be allocated to providing essential services for malaria control in Sudan.
The grant aims to meet the urgent need for rapid malaria diagnosis and treatment for approximately 6.5 million, 6.2 million, and 5.8 million malaria cases in Sudan for the years 2024, 2025, and 2026, respectively. It also aims to prevent malaria through the distribution of insecticide-treated mosquito nets and other forms of care for 28 million people, in addition to supporting the enhancement of relevant health systems and locally-led initiatives.
Out of the total amount, 33 million will be allocated for treating individuals with HIV and tuberculosis according to an agreement between the Global Fund and UNDP.
The grant includes providing essential medicines to meet Sudans current needs for providing and continuing treatment for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) to 14,000 individuals and treating approximately 44,000 tuberculosis cases over three years in public hospitals and primary healthcare centers that are still operational.
UNDP will also continue managing the reinvestment of the Global Fund into the COVID-19 response mechanism, which is worth approximately 20 million, to strengthen healthcare systems, mobile clinics, rehabilitate regional laboratories, enhance supply chains, and support health workers and community-based organizations.
Thaer Shreida, Acting Resident Representative of UNDP in Sudan, said, "UNDP supports the national HIV/TB program in Sudan in mapping health facilities and tracking all patients in need of HIV and TB treatment."
"UNDP is committed to providing life-saving medical treatment and rehabilitating healthcare systems across Sudan."
The programs funded by the Global Fund in Sudan support the provision of essential medicines for public health facilities in the country, including: antiretroviral drugs for individuals with HIV, tuberculosis drugs, malaria drugs, rapid diagnostic tests for public health and community services, insecticide-treated mosquito nets for the 2025 comprehensive mosquito net distribution campaign in malaria-endemic areas. The fund also supports medical oxygen production, mobile clinics, incinerators for waste management, personal protective equipment, as well as community activities and strengthening laboratory and surveillance systems.
