The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria has procured its first-ever supply of first-line HIV treatment produced in Africa.

The medicine—TLD, a combination of tenofovir, lamivudine, and dolutegravir—was manufactured by a leading pharmaceutical company in Kenya and delivered to Mozambique.

The shipment is enough to treat more than 72,000 people each year.

According to Hui Yang, who heads Supply Operations at the Global Fund, this move reinforces the organization’s commitment to strengthening Africa’s medical manufacturing capabilities.

“Producing medicine locally in Africa boosts supply security and makes vital treatments more accessible and affordable,” said Yang, adding that such efforts are crucial to global health resilience.

The Global Fund is actively collaborating with several regional and international bodies to enhance local production and procurement systems.

These include the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), African Regional Economic Communities, the World Bank’s International Finance Corporation, and Unitaid.

The fund has already been sourcing key items like antimalarial drugs, co-trimoxazole, and insecticide-treated nets from African producers, ensuring they meet stringent quality standards.

Mark Edington, who oversees Grant Management at the Global Fund, emphasized that the organization will continue prioritizing African-made medical products.

“We aim to speed up access to cost-effective, quality-assured treatments made in Africa,” he said. “Collaborating more deeply with local manufacturers is part of that vision.”

Through its NextGen market shaping strategy, the Global Fund is implementing measures to fast-track the adoption of new health technologies, build local manufacturing skills, and develop sustainable supply networks.

Africa remains a focal point for these efforts, given the continent’s significant gap between demand and the current supply of high-quality health products.

This development marks a crucial step forward in improving access to essential medicines while supporting the growth of Africa’s pharmaceutical sector.