Ethiopia gets $45m for sick
2003-09-17 16:56
Addis Ababa - Director Dr Richard Feachem of the Global Fund to Fight Aids, Tuberculosis and Malaria (GFATM) told Ethiopian President Girma Woldegeorgis on Wednesday that it has dispensed $45m of the $100m earmarked for Ethiopia.
Feachem informed the Ethiopian president that the remaining $55m would be made available in the months ahead.
During talks with the president, Feachem stated that the country had exerted "commendable efforts" to mitigate the impact of tuberculosis and malaria, the government press reported quoting the official Ethiopian News Agency.
He added that the Fund would help Ethiopia secure additional funds to assist in the fight against the three killer diseases.
The president expressed appreciation for the support the Fund was providing to Ethiopia, which he said would spur efforts to check the spread of HIV/Aids and control the prevailing high death toll from malaria and tuberculosis in the country.
The Fund supports programmes that strengthen the health systems in developing countries, particularly those directed at reducing risks from HIV/Aids, TB and malaria, the major health issues in Ethiopia.
- SAPA