By NOELA EBOB BISONG
Cameroon has contributed the sum of FCFA 3 billion to help the International Community raise the USD 14 billion target, needed to eradicate AIDS, Tuberculosis and malaria. This was during the Global Fund’s 6th Replenishment Conference which took place in Lyon France, under the auspices of French president, Emmanuel Macron. The two-day event ran on October 9 and 10, 2019 with focus to fight against HIV, Tuberculosis and Malaria.
The conference had as objective to raise a minimum of 14 billion US dollars to save 16 million lives, prevent 234 million infections and eradicate these diseases. The specific purpose of the Conference was to: Obtain financial commitments from Global Fund donors for the period 2020-2022 and reach the minimum replenishment target of $ 14 billion; Demonstrate France’s leadership role and ability to bring the international community together around a crucial issue for development, but also to maintain stability and security; Provide a visibility platform to demonstrate the results and impact of Global Fund investments and celebrate the contributions of the partners.
It should be recalled that every three years, the Global Fund organises the replenishment of its resources for the next cycle, resources that come from voluntary contributions from governments and private donors. It is during this meeting that the amount of the contributions of each country and private donors from around the world is definitively announced, in order to contribute to the fight against epidemics and to promote a future where everyone would live in good health.
Cameroon has over the years benefited from the fund in terms of free AIDS treatment in the country, distribution of treated mosquito nets as well as the constant fight against the spread of tuberculosis. As a matter of fact, since 2003, the Government of Cameroon has signed 15 grant agreements with the Global Fund to fight HIV, Tuberculosis and Malaria. These agreements, including seven (7) for HIV, five (5) for malaria and three (3) for tuberculosis, amounted to nearly 198 billion FCFA.
The Global Fund, created in 2002 on the initiative of France, the European Union and the G7, has saved 27 million lives since its creation with more than 38 billion dollars of investments. Based in Geneva, it pools the financial contributions of 38 states and more than 14 private actors to support national pandemic programmes in about 140 developing countries. The Global Fund is now the largest international donor to fight pandemics in developing countries, with 20% for HIV, 65% for tuberculosis and 57% for malaria.
President Biya upon his arrival in Lyon met an enthusiastic reception in Lyon France, where many Cameroonians gathered to welcome him and his entourage. However, on Thursday, October 10, another group of Cameroonians, said to be of the group known as the Brigade Anti-Sardinards, BAS, (a group protesting Biya’s long stay in power) will try to protest and disrupt his stay in Lyon, as was the case in Switzerland few months ago. However, the group did meet with stiff opposition from the French Police who gave them “No room for nonsense”.