Global Fund Approves $302 Million for South African Health

January 3- South Africa will be better able to fight AIDS, TB and malaria after receiving a major boost of $302 million from Global Fund for that purpose.

Aaron Motsoaledi, South African health minister stated: "the Global Fund have approved a total of up to $302 million (R2,07 billion) in funding for South Africa over a period of five years for the tenth round of grants for prevention, treatment and care of AIDS and TB."

This is the largest granted received to date from Global Fund and it is expected to strengthen the health system.

Motsoaledi said that of the total amount, $196 million will be set aside for AIDS treatment, $33 million will go towards medical male circumcision, $10 million will be put towards strengthening health care systems and the community response to HIV, AIDS and TB and $8 million will go towards direct support of TB programmes.

The minister said: "we welcome the grant, particularly the contribution to AIDS treatment. It will allow us to put more people on treatment earlier and it will improve health outcomes as well as avert AIDS-related deaths."

Dr Thobile Mbengashe, National Health Department HOD expressed his pleasure at the news stating that this grant from Global Fund will help the country's fight against HIV and AIDS.

He continued that "the funding came at the right time because already the South African government has made major efforts to deal with this pandemic by providing treatment to prevent mother to child transmission."

Together with health insurance, these new funds can be used to improve the overall health system in the county.

Campaigns funded by this grant may lead to improved health insurance which may further improve overall health.