BY PHUMELELE MKHONTA
MBABANE- The country is popular for all the right moves at the 77th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA77).
UNAIDS Executive Director Winnie Byanyima has applauded the Kingdom of Eswatini for pledging to support the Global Fund despite being faced with fiscal challenges.
The Global Fund to fight HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (or simply the Global Fund) is an international financing and partnership organisation that aims to attract, leverage and invest additional resources to end the epidemics of HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria to support attainment of the Sustainable Development Goals established by the United Nations.
Eswatini has pledged US$1 million (approximately E17.6 million), from E96 million contributed in the Sixth Replenishment Conference.
Donors, including Eswatini, raised US$14.25 billion (approximately E247.3 billion) to support efforts to end the three pandemics: AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria at the Seventh Replenishment Conference hosted by United States of America President Joe Biden held on the side-lines of UNGA77 in New York.
Byanyima said the Central African Republic, Eswatini, Malawi, Nigeria, Tanzania, Rwanda and Zimbabwe all made contributions to the Global Fund despite facing huge fiscal challenges, exacerbated by the current global crisis.
“I am truly humbled to see so many developing countries that are themselves facing multiple crises, and yet still made increased pledges to the Global Fund,” said the UNAIDS Executive Director.
Minister of Health Senator Lizzie Nkosi has appreciated the country’s contribution, saying the Eswatini was one of the greatest beneficiaries of Global Fund support.
