The fund will be utilized to prevent HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria as well as to put in place effective health system between 2018 and 2021, Dr Kebede Worku, State Minister of Health, told journalists yesterday.

About 194 million US dollars of the total fund will be used to fight HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria, while 158 million will be channelled to tuberculosis and malaria prevention activities, he said.

The remaining 27 million US dollars will be used to fund the establishment of an effective health system, the State Minister said.

According to Dr Kebede, efforts will be made to utilize the fund properly and for the intended purpose.

The Global Fund is an innovative financing mechanism that seeks to rapidly raise and disburse funding for programs that reduce the impact of HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria in low- and middle-income countries.

Of the suspects 224 are from north Gondar, 176 from Awi, 107 from west Gojam, 41 from east Gojam, 17 from south Wollo, 14 from Oromo Special zone, two from Wag Himra and one from north Shoa zones. Similarly, the regional state pardoned 2, 905 inmates, according to Nigussu Tilahun, head of the regional state communication affairs office.

The move is part of the decisions made by heads of the four member parties of EPRDF to pardon some politicians and individuals in order to build national consensus and widen the political space.