- In a recent piece for Devex, health ministers of four of the world’s highest-burden tuberculosis (TB) countries (Indonesia, the Philippines, South Africa, and Nigeria) outline mechanisms for ending TB. Tools like modern financing, national insurance and taxation plans, engagement with results-based financing development banks, leveraging private sector resources, and converting debt into domestic spending on health can eliminate the burden of TB. Every dollar spent on TB yields up to $46 in economic benefit. As the authors rightfully say, it’s time for countries to address the response to their own epidemics, so that their people can reap the rewards.
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Ghanaian President John Mahama is championing a new path towards health autonomy through the "Accra Reset," a new framework for development that prioritizes self-determination in Africa. The framework calls for governments to define their own health priorities while engaging partners, from U.N. agencies to the private sector, to co-design solutions. The framework includes technical partnership and mutual accountability as key elements needed from both private companies and the government for effective collaboration in the region.
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The Elton John AIDS Foundation announced that it is expanding its flagship Rocket Fund campaign goal to $200 million. This investment will help roll out long-acting injectable PrEP (lenacapavir) in Kenya, Nigeria, Uganda, and South Africa in partnership with the Global Fund. Since its launch, the Rocket Fund and its partners have provided testing, treatment, prevention, and mental health support for more than 2.2 million people across 63 countries.
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Lesotho has dramatically slowed its HIV epidemic. Once the country with the world's second-highest rate of HIV infections, in 2024, Lesotho achieved UNAIDS's 95-95-95 targets of having 95% of people living with HIV aware of their status, 95% on treatment, and 95% with a suppressed viral load. Today, the country faces medication shortages, overwhelmed clinics, and stalled prevention programs following reductions in foreign investment through PEPFAR, reports AP News. The U.S. has announced six-month bridge programs to sustain lifesaving services while negotiating a multiyear funding agreement with Lesotho. However, a deliberate, sustainable phase-out approach is essential to preserve progress and protect the health gains of recent decades.
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New malaria research in western Uganda finds that baby wraps infused with the insect repellent permethrin reduce malaria cases by roughly 65% compared to untreated wraps. This finding can support efforts to combat a growing challenge for malaria prevention that mosquitoes increasingly bite during the day, when bed nets offer no protection. Integrating simple, culturally familiar tools like baby wraps into broader malaria control strategies is a remarkable finding that will give babies extra protection from malaria.
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Germany announced a €1 billion commitment to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria, reports Devex. The Global Fund seeks to raise $18 billion for its 2026–2028 funding cycle. The pledge enables innovations such as AI-powered TB detection, lenacapavir, and smart mosquito nets to save lives. With early pledges from several European nations, a successful replenishment could help save up to 23 million lives between 2027 and 2029 while strengthening pathways toward self-reliance.
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