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Republic of Congo Faces critical Funding Shortfall in HIV/AIDS and Tuberculosis Fight
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Brazzaville,Republic of Congo – The Republic of Congo is facing a significant funding crisis that threatens to undermine its progress in combating HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis. A shortfall of approximately 14 million euros (9 billion FCFA) in the nation’s commitment to the Global Fund could result in thousands of patients losing access to life-saving treatments by 2026.
Urgent Call for Congo to Honor funding Commitment
Lionel Caruana, the World Fund’s portfolio manager in Congo, speaking from Geneva, Switzerland, emphasized the critical nature of the situation.He lauded the progress made over the past two decades but warned that the country’s failure to meet its financial obligations could have dire consequences. The World fund has invested 90 million euros in Congo for the 2024-2026 period, a donation contingent on Congo fulfilling its counterpart funding commitment [1].
Did You Know? The Global Fund provides 90 million euros to Congo’s health programs between 2024-2026, but Congo must provide a counterpart of 14 million euros.
Consequences of Non-Payment
The repercussions of failing to honor this commitment are severe. By the end of 2026, an estimated 20,000 individuals living with HIV might potentially be deprived of treatment, and 4,000 tuberculosis patients could be denied access to essential care. Furthermore,the distribution of insecticide-treated mosquito nets,a crucial tool in malaria prevention,could be reduced,leaving 20% of the Congolese population vulnerable [2].
Caruana also cautioned that the World Fund might be forced to cut its contributions in the coming months and for future cycles (2027-2029) if the situation is not resolved. He stressed that in a constrained global health funding environment, priority will be given to countries that meet their financial obligations.
Pro Tip: Countries that honor their funding commitments are more likely to receive continued support from global health organizations.
UNDP Support and National Progress
Despite the funding challenges, the United Nations Growth Program (UNDP) has been actively supporting the Republic of Congo in its fight against HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis.The UNDP has provided essential equipment, including a national P3 reference laboratory for mycobacteriology, incinerators for hospitals, refrigerated trucks for waste transport, and vehicles for health districts. The UNDP is also supporting the construction of the national AIDS program headquarters in brazzaville and twenty warehouses for storing health products.
Jean Rosaire Ibara, the minister of Health and Population, acknowledged the support from technical and financial partners, which has enabled Congo to secure a subsidy of nearly 59 billion FCFA as part of the 7th financing cycle.This funding is intended to support 87,000 people living with HIV, 20,000 tuberculosis cases per year, and over 520,000 malaria cases, while also distributing 40 million mosquito nets.
Minister Ibara reported that in 2023, the number of notified tuberculosis cases increased to 14,370, with a therapeutic success rate of 82%. The number of people living with HIV under antiretroviral treatment reached 44,112 in 2024, compared to 26,030 in 2019, and deaths decreased from 8,600 to 6,300.
Statistics at a Glance
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