LAHORE: The Global Fund will provide a grant of $281.5 million to Pakistan for the detection, prevention and treatment of HIV/AIDS, TB and malaria in the country.

The development was shared in a meeting of a joint team of the Global Fund country team and United Nations Development Program (UNDP) officials, with Punjab Minister for Primary and Secondary Healthcare Dr Jamal Nasir here on Wednesday.

The team apprised the minister of the progress of the ongoing health programmes supported by the Global Fund in Pakistan.

The meeting also discussed the challenges faced in implementation of TB, HIV and Malaria interventions in Punjab and their and potential solutions.

“The Global Fund will provide a grant of $281.5m to Pakistan in phases in three years”, the Punjab health minister said, terming it a major development in the fight against HIV/AIDS, TB and malaria.

He said that during the meeting the expectations of the province from the New Grant Cycle 2024- 2026 for controlling these diseases were also deliberated, besides exploring the opportunities for further collaboration and coordination, to strengthen the healthcare system in Punjab.

Dr Jamal Nasir observes that the health sector in Punjab has undergone a considerable improvement in a short span of time.

He says the Punjab caretaker government is using all available resources to safeguard the people against these diseases, adding that more than 100 district and tehsil headquarters hospitals (DHQs and THQs) are being revamped.

“The special grant of $281.5m by the Global Fund will go a long way in our efforts to fight TB, AIDS and malaria in Punjab”, the minister adds.

The grant will help prevent infectious diseases, integrate health systems and facilitate the provision of medicines in the province, he says.

The minister says that given the climate change and alarming disease data, there is a need to expand the support of the Global Fund.

He says the meeting also reviewed performance of Punjab TB and AIDS control programmes, their future expansion and capacity building.

The visiting delegation was informed that 45 AIDS screening and counseling centres are functioning in all 36 districts of Punjab.

The minister thanked the UNDP for its support in controlling HIV/AIDS in Punjab.

Health Special Secretary Muhammad Iqbal, Punjab Health Services Director General Dr Ilyas Gondal,Drugs Control Director General Muhammad Sohail and Dr Yadullah and other relevant officers were also present.

Published in Dawn, January 18th, 2024