The Liberia Coordinating Mechanism (LCM) of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria has applauded and welcomed Plan International’s renewal of commitment to reduce illnesses and deaths associated with malaria in Liberia.
Plan International Liberia’s Chief of Party for Global Fund Malaria Grant, Dr. Ibrahim Kamara announced Plan’s commitment at the review of Global Fund Grant Implementation meeting in the port City of Buchanan, Grand Bassa County, highlighting Plan’s strong support as one of the Principal Recipients of the Global Fund’s grant in Liberia.
Mr. Solomon Watkins, Communications Officer of the LCM, praised Plan’s leadership and positive example, noting that “Plan is stepping up the fight toward ending malaria, and we are greatly encouraged that Plan International Liberia is paving the way for other partners to increase their commitments as well for greater performance and achievement in helping Liberia meets her share of global targets.” Mr. Watkins made the statement when he represented his boss, Mrs. Paulina Doe Hilton, Head of Secretariat of the LCM.
The world is targeted at reducing malaria incidence by at least 90%; reducing malaria mortality by at least 90%; eliminating malaria in at least 35 countries, as well as, preventing a resurgence of malaria in all countries that are malaria-free at the end of 2030.
In Liberia, the government projected that with the new Global Fund investment, the nation will experience about 50% reduction in Malaria illnesses and deaths by 2020.
Mr. Watkins also used the occasion to reaffirm the LCM’s commitment to working with Plan International Liberia as PR for the Global Fund (GF).
The GF works through Country Coordinating Mechanisms (CCMs) which are national bodies in each country that submit funding applications to the Global Fund on behalf of the entire country. Members of the CCM include representatives from government, the private sector, technical partners, civil society, faith-based organizations, people living with the diseases, and developmental partners.
In Liberia, the CCM called, the LCM is responsible to coordinate the development and submission of proposals to the Global Fund on behalf of the country, as well as select organizations known as Principal Recipients (PRs) to manage the funds and oversee implementation of approved grants.
The renewal of commitment followed the reviewed of the Global Fund Malaria Program intervention carried out by Plan International Liberia in four counties, Lofa, Bomi, Nimba and Margibi.
The review meeting was intended to follow up on progress and achievements with a view to identify gaps and challenges, and to strategize on how to address those gaps and challenges in the way forward to treat and prevent the spread of malaria in Liberia.
As part of its commitment, Plan International Liberia, Head of Program, Miriam Murray also disclosed that Plan is in preparedness to reach 1.4 million girls. The goal is to ensure that the rights of children, especially girls, are achieved in Liberia by 2022. “This includes the right to life. We are all obligated to ensure that the children live. One means to achieve that is to prevent them from mosquitoes bites. So as we embarked on initiatives to help girls to learn, lead, decide and thrive, we will do all to ensure they prevent themselves from Malaria.”
Plan International Liberia, under Global Fund New Funding Model (NFM2) grant is currently implementing the malaria program which aims to continue malaria treatment and prevention in Liberia, in line with National Community Health Policy and Strategy, and to address gaps in implementation and strategies according to new evidence and policies.
The intervention mandate under the new grant period of 1 July, 2018 to 30 June, 2021, includes treatment through community based management, vector control; Long Lasting Insecticide-Treated Nets (LLINs) distribution through mass campaign, information, education, and communication/behavior change communication, and community system strengthening.
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