Covid-19 pandemic Sets Back the Fight Against HIV, TB and Malaria Programs- Global Fund

According to a new report Published by the Global Fund on Wednesday September 8, 2021, the Covid-19 pandemic had devastating impacts on the fight against HIV, TB and malaria in 2020. The Results Report reveals that while some progress was made, key programmatic results have recorded setbacks for the first time in the history of the Global Fund.

“To mark our 20th anniversary, we had hoped to focus this year’s Results Report on the extraordinary stories of courage and resilience that made possible the progress we have achieved against HIV, TB and malaria over the last two decades. But the 2020 numbers force a different focus. They confirm what we feared might happen when Covid-19 struck,” said Peter Sands, Executive Director of the Global Fund.

The report indicates that in  2020, the number of people treated for drug-resistant TB in the countries where the Global Fund invests dropped by a staggering 19%, with those on treatment for extensively drug-resistant TB registering a bigger drop of 37%. The number of HIV-positive TB patients on antiretroviral treatment as well as TB treatment dropped by 16%.

The report also highlights significant declines in HIV testing and prevention services for key and vulnerable populations who were already disproportionately affected. Compared with 2019, people reached with HIV prevention programs and services declined by 11% while young people reached with prevention services declined by 12%. Mothers receiving medicine to prevent transmitting HIV to their babies dropped by 4.5%. HIV testing dropped by 22%, holding back HIV treatment initiation in most countries.

Interventions to combat malaria appear to have been less badly affected by Covid-19 than the other two diseases (HIV and TB). Thanks to adaptation measures and the diligence and innovation of community health workers, prevention activities remained stable or increased compared to 2019. The number of mosquito nets distributed increased by 17%, and structures covered by indoor residual spraying increased by 3%. In 2020, 11.5 million pregnant women received preventive therapy. However, suspected cases of malaria tested fell by 4.3% and progress against the disease stalled.

The Global Fund partnership’s rapid and determined response to Covid-19 prevented an even worse outcome. In 2020, the Global Fund disbursed US$4.2 billion to continue the fight against HIV, TB and malaria and strengthen systems for health and approved an additional US$980 million in funding to respond to Covid-19.

As of August 2021, the Global Fund has approved a total of US$3.3 billion to more than 100 countries to adapt lifesaving HIV, TB and malaria programs, provide critical tests, treatments and medical supplies, protect front-line health workers and urgently reinforce fragile systems for health. These investments along with fast action and funding from donors, governments, communities and health partners helped mitigate the impact of Covid-19 on HIV, TB and malaria and achieve the progress made in the fight against the three diseases.

Key Results for 2020 in countries where the Global Fund invests include: 21.9 million people received lifesaving antiretroviral therapy for HIV in 2020, an 8.8% increase compared to 2019 despite COVID-19; 8.7 million people reached with HIV prevention services in 2020; 4.7 million people treated for TB in 2020; 194,000 children exposed to TB patients received preventative therapy in 2020; 188 million mosquito nets distributed to protect families from malaria, a 17% increase compared to 2019 despite COVID-19. 

“The Global Fund partnership continues to save lives. In the face of the extraordinary challenges caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, our partnership demonstrated flexibility and determination, delivering medicine, supplies and care to millions of people around the world. Countries we invest in responded quickly to Covid-19 using the same laboratories, disease surveillance, community networks, trained health workers and supply chains that were created to fight HIV, TB and malaria.” Sands commented.

Since its inception in 2002, the Global Fund partnership has saved 44 million lives. The number of deaths caused by AIDS, TB and malaria decreased by 46%  in countries where the Global Fund invests. These achievements are a result of efforts by a wide array of actors comprising the Global Fund partnership, including implementer governments, multilateral agencies, bilateral partners, civil society groups, people affected by the diseases and the private sector.

“Despite the horrible toll Covid-19 has taken, the pandemic presents us with a chance to build a better, more equitable and healthier world. Together, we have changed the trajectory of HIV, TB and malaria and we are determined to continue to do so. If we continue to innovate and collaborate  at global, national and local levels, we can end HIV, TB and malaria, beat Covid-19 and build a much stronger foundation for pandemic preparedness and response,” concluded Sands.

Before the covid-19 pandemic, the world had been making strides against these illnesses. Overall, deaths from those diseases dropped by about half since 2004. “The advent of a fourth pandemic, in Covid, puts these hard-fought gains in great jeopardy,” said Mitchell Warren, executive director of AVAC, a nonprofit organization promoting HIV treatment worldwide. The pandemic has flooded hospitals and disrupted supply chains for tests and treatments. In many poor countries, the coronavirus crisis diverted limited public health resources away from treatment and prevention of these diseases.

The crisis forced health agencies and ministries in many poor countries to adopt innovations that may outlast the pandemic. Among them: dispensing to patients multi-month supplies of TB and H.I.V. drugs, as well as condoms, lubricants and needles; using digital tools to monitor TB treatment; and testing simultaneously for HIV, TB and Covid-19.

As many as 115 million people have been driven into extreme poverty because of Covid-19, further limiting their access to treatment and support. In some countries, school closures and lock downs made it particularly difficult for adolescent girls and young women to receive health services.