RWANDA-The government has signed a grant agreement worth $204 with the Global Fund to support the fight against HIV, malaria and TB. The occasion also marked ten years of partnership between Rwanda and the global health organization.

The 2-year grant takes the form of result-based financing (RBF), following the good performance in management of funds and health program by the government with a success rate of 98%.

Finance Minister Claver Gatete, who signed the agreement on behalf of the government, said that fund will further bolster the success of the national vision which he stressed is citizen-centered. "Our vision is about people... Whatever we do should be for people," Gatete pointed out, noting that the country puts much effort in health sector. "Without healthy people we can go nowhere."

Gatete lauded the support of the Global Fund which has contributed to improving public health in Rwanda, and called upon those managing the fund to administer it properly by being result-oriented and accountable to the stakeholders.

At the same time, Gatete challenged Rwandans to be innovative with a view of becoming self-reliant given that the fund is limited. "We cannot be helped forever," he stressed.

Nafsiah Mboi, chair of the board of the Global Fund, indicated that the achievements in the public health sector in Rwanda are the result of good leadership, commitment and partnership, with efficient use of resources.

And indeed, over the past decade tremendous successes have been registered in the fight against HIV, malaria and TB, through improved prevention, diagnosis and treatment.

Among the highlights are the reduction over the past ten years of the seropositive rate from 10.8% to 0.8%, prevalence of HIV-positive pregnant women from 9.2% to 1%, a reduction of infants born with HIV and mothers who are infected from 9.7 % to 0.9%.

There has also been a significant decline in malaria incidence and mortality thanks to advanced treatment and mosquitoes nets, while laboratory confirmation has increased from 47% in 2003 to 99.9%, among others.

One of the beneficiaries of these improvements in public health care is Beatrice Kagoyire, an HIV-positive woman who said she has benefited a lot from the partnership between the government and the Global Fund. Since she was diagnosed with HIV ten years ago, she has constantly received anti-retroviral drugs, allowing her to give birth to two healthy children.

"Today, when an HIV patient dies, it will not be due to the lack of anti-retrovirals," Kagoyire said.

Source: AllAfrica