by Isi Esene

President Goodluck Jonathan has signified his preparedness to lead the Global Fund’s effort to raise funds for the fight against AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria the world over.

Jonathan said this while meeting with Mark Dybul, the Executive Director of the Global Fund to discuss concerted efforts at controlling these deadly diseases globally.

Dr. Dybul commended the efforts of the president over hos commitment to expand health services citing an example of the “Save One Million Lives” initiative aimed at increasing access to healthcare for women and children in particular.

“Working together, we can make tremendous gains,” said Dr. Dybul.

“With the existing science, our understanding of the epidemiology and our collective experience in combating the diseases, we now have an opportunity to control them. If we do not, the long-term costs will be incalculable.”

During his Monday visit, Dr. Dybul met with critical stakeholders in the country’s health sector including the Health Minister, Prof. Chukwu Onyebuchi, the Minister of State for Health, Dr. Muhammad Pate, and other partners and implementers.

President Jonathan accepted an invitation to be a Co-Chair in this year’s replenishment efforts by the Global Fund. Other Co-Chairs include UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and heads of states from developed countries, emerging economies and the private sector.

Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede, Chairman of Friends Africa, reportedly said: “The upcoming replenishment of the Global Fund  ought to be given the highest levels of support for the fight against these diseases to be won.”