The Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS) hosted the event “Synergies for Health,” organized in collaboration with the University of Rome Tor Vergata and the Community of Sant’Egidio, with the participation of the Sant’Anna School of Advanced Studies in Pisa and the Italian National Institute of Health.
The event, opened by Director Marco Riccardo Rusconi, provided an opportunity to share and discuss the results of various projects funded in Africa under the “5% Global Fund Call for Tuberculosis, AIDS, and Malaria.”
Speakers included Professor Leonardo Palombi, Rector of the Our Lady of Good Counsel University in Tirana and Scientific Director of the DREAM program; Dr. Alessia Montanari, Donor Relations Officer at The Global Fund; Dr. Giovanni Guidotti from the Community of Sant’Egidio; Professor Stefano Orlando from the Department of Biomedicine and Prevention at the University of Rome Tor Vergata; Professor Giuseppe Turchetti from the Sant’Anna School of Advanced Studies in Pisa; Dr. Benjamin Welu, a physician and researcher involved in the DREAM Program in Kenya (via video link); and a representative from the Ministry of Health in Malawi (also connected remotely).
The review of experiences and interventions ranged from the CHAO project, led by the Department of Biomedicine and Prevention at the University of Rome Tor Vergata in close collaboration with the Community of Sant’Egidio and Dream Sant’Egidio, involving 25 healthcare facilities in Meru County, Kenya, to the Bridge the Gap project, a partnership between the Institute of Management at the Sant’Anna School of Advanced Studies, the Community of Sant’Egidio, and the University of Rome Tor Vergata, focused on reducing gender disparities in the fight against HIV/TB in Malawi. Special attention was given to the WeMen! project, also supported by AICS, aimed at improving women’s adherence to treatment protocols in Malawi by increasing the involvement of male partners in HIV/AIDS healthcare services.
“The Global Fund’s approach, with its global partnership formula, ensures long-term financial predictability for the fight against HIV, TBC, and malaria, with the goal of strengthening healthcare systems. Since its launch, Italian Cooperation has consistently incorporated this new tool within its overarching commitment to the health sector, which is also a pillar of the Mattei Plan. Article 32 of the Constitution guides us by defining ‘health as a fundamental right of the individual and a collective interest,’ ensuring a healthcare system that is inclusive, equitable, efficient, and far-reaching. With the ‘5% Call,’ we aim to promote partnerships between universities, civil society organizations, and research institutions, as today’s experiences have demonstrated,” said AICS Director Marco Riccardo Rusconi.
The Global Fund (GF) is a worldwide partnership aimed at ensuring a healthier and more equitable future for all by funding programs for the prevention, treatment, and care of HIV, TB, and malaria. Italy played a key role in launching the GF at the 2001 G8 Summit and is currently the ninth-largest bilateral donor. Since 2017, a 5% financial reserve on Italy’s contribution has been established, which annually funds a call for proposals aimed at civil society organizations, research institutions, and universities.
The deadline for submitting “Synergistic Initiatives” proposals from civil society organizations, universities, and public research institutions under the Technical Support Spending Framework for the Global Fund to fight AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria for 2024 is October 22, 2024.