Fight Against AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria : Cameroon Attends Brainstorming Discussion

The Global Fund's sixth Replenishment Conference taking place in Lyon, France enters a decisive phase today, Oct. 10 with Heads of State, governments and delegates of international organisations assembling at the Convention Centre to pledge their contribution to the package aimed at boosting the fight against HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria. 
President Paul Biya accompanied by wife Chantal features among five of the African Presidents invited to participate in the conference. His presence is in response to an invitation from the French leader, President Emmanuel Macron within the framework of the good relations between Paris and Yaounde. The invitation is equally in recognition of the satisfactory results registered by Cameroon in the fight against the three diseases as testified by the significant drop in the prevalence rate for HIV and others. Cameroon has equally proven its ability to deploy the funds allocated by the Global Fund where the First Lady has been actively involved in the fight with registered positive results.
As the conference enters higher gear with pledges from various contributors, President Biya is equally expected to have discussions with his colleagues on how best to intensify the fight.  In effect, ten Heads of State are expected to take part in the conference, five of whom are from Africa considering the continent's vulnerability to HIV/AIDS, TB and Malaria. Today's fund raising ceremony will be presided over by President Macron as the whole exercise since yesterday is focusing on one magic theme; "Step up the Fight." Deliberations will epitomise with messages from the UN Secretary General, António Guterres, Chair of the Global Fund Board, Donald Kaberuka and the co-Chair of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Bill Gates. These, of course will follow the remarks of President Macron with focus on stepping up efforts to achieve health for all. Expectations remain high on the fundraising considering the growing challenges that are being identified by experts in the sector. These include: the emergence of new threats said to have pushed researchers and other actors off track, wavering political commitment marked by shortfalls in...