Global fund chief jets into Zambia

Chairperson of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, Rajat Kumar Gupta has arrived in the country for a two-day visit.

Mr. Gupta arrived at the Lusaka International Airport around 15:10hours aboard an Ethiopian Airline.

On hand to receive him was Elizabeth Mataka, the Vice Chairperson for the Global Fund to fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, National Aids Council (NAC)Director General, Dr Ben Chirwa, United Nations(UN)Resident Coordinator Aneases Chuma and officials from the ministry of foreign affairs.

Speaking on arrival, Mr. Gupta told journalists that he is in Zambia to assess how the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria has been utilized in the country.

He said he was looking forward to conduct field trips in Zambia to see for himself how the fund has performed.

Mr. Gupta noted that it was important that countries that receive the funds utilize money for the intended purposes as this will encourage the organisation to release more funds.

He said the Global fund has systems in place which ensure that grants given to various countries are put to good use

Mr. Gupta explained that he has been in Africa for nine days and has so far visited Uganda and Ethiopia for similar programmes.

He said he was impressed with how the fund has been implemented in Ethiopia with regard to malaria prevention programmes.

Mr. Gupta however expressed concern that the Prevention of the Mother to Child Transmission (PMCT) programmes were not performing well in Africa.

He noted that most countries have no excuse for not reducing the infection rates as solutions have been tabled across but infection rates do not seem to reduce.

And Mrs Mataka hailed Mr Gupta for visiting Zambia adding that she hopes he will see the positive impact of the funds in Zambia.