By Victor Asije
Lagos – The United States President’s Emergency Plan
for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) and biopharmaceutical company, AstraZeneca,
have earmarked about N3.14billlion($10million) for the expansion of
access to HIV/AIDS and hypertension services.
The U.S. Department of State said in a statement that the Five-Year global
public-private partnership, which would begin in Kenya, was expected
to offer an integrated manner at the existing PEPFAR-supported
HIV/AIDS sites.
“The U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) and
biopharmaceutical company, AstraZeneca, on Friday announced a $10 million
(subject to the availability of funds), five-year global
public-private partnership.
“The new partnership supports the achievement of the U.N. Sustainable
Development Goal 3 of good health and well-being.
“It is designed to address these challenges head-on by optimising
existing HIV/AIDS service delivery infrastructure and more
specifically, enhancing services for men from ages 25 to 50,’’ it said.
AstraZeneca said in the statement that it was honoured to join PEPFAR
in improving access to vital testing and treatment that would reduce
hypertension and HIV/AIDS.
The company also noted in the statement the increasing rates of
hypertension and cardiovascular diseases in Sub-Saharan Africa.
“AstraZeneca shares PEPFAR’s vision of improving the health and lives
of underserved communities in sub-Saharan Africa.
‘’ Increasing rates of hypertension and cardiovascular disease in the
region threaten individuals, families, communities and burden
already-stressed health systems,’’ it said.
Amb. Deborah Birx, Managing Director of the U.S. Global AIDS Coordinator
and Special Representative for Global Health Diplomacy, in the
statement noted the need for innovative approaches to reaching the
populations.
Birx said that the new partnership would enhance their ability to
deliver speedily and more effectively on HIV/AIDS testing and
treatment for working-age men in two high-prevalence counties in
Kenya.
“Together, we have made remarkable progress in the global response
to HIV/AIDS.
“Yet, we need innovative approaches to better identify and strive
harder to reach populations, including men, who too often only present
for care when they are very ill,’’ it said.
According to the statement, hypertension and cardiovascular diseases
are two of the largest drivers of Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs)
across Africa.
(Edited and Controlled by Idonije Obakhedo)
