Quito, November 28, 2023
The Minister of Public Health, Franklin Ncalada, on Tuesday received in his office representatives of the Global Fund Mission (FM) who will be on an official visit to the country from November 27 to December 1, 2023.
The FM team briefed the new authorities on the implementation progress and results of the Ecuadorian AIDS prevention and control project.
Protocol greetings were hosted by Minister Encalada and Cristina Riboni, Ecuador Program Manager of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, in the presence of Undersecretary for Health Governance Sara Tamar and Health Governance Program Manager Rodrigo Tobar. Reduce the chronic infectious diseases that most affect Ecuador: HIV/AIDS, sexually transmitted infections, tuberculosis, and viral hepatitis B and C.
The Ministry of Public Health (MSP), as the main recipient, is responsible for the management and implementation of the subsidy, which has an investment of US$6 million. One strategy is to increase access to HIV prevention and early diagnosis for key populations, including scaling up pre-exposure prophylaxis in the country.
The Minister expressed hope that coordinated actions will continue and prevention strategies will be strengthened. Cristina Riboni expressed her appreciation for the support of the highest health authorities. “I applaud the minister’s willingness to continue this proposal until 2025,” he said.
Tobar highlighted the progress made in strengthening first-level health care through the employment of health professionals and peer facilitators within the framework of the Inclusive Services Strategy, as well as the development of a social contract to implement actions for the pilot program in coordination with civil society organizations.
The international committee plans to visit several hospitals and health facilities that provide care for people living with HIV.