AFRICA – The Global Fund, in conjunction with brewing giant Heineken have launched a new public-private partnership, joining forces to further advance the goal of ending HIV, tuberculosis and malaria epidemics in Africa.

According to Heineken, it will lend its expertise in the areas of logistics and communications to support the Global Fund in better reaching specific demographic groups that are most at risk of HIV, tuberculosis and malaria, as part of the partnership.

At the core of the partnership, Heineken will also pair supply chain experts with logistics planners at the Global Fund to share expertise in demand forecasting and quality control during shipment.

“The Global Fund is a strong believer in the power of public-private partnerships in order to accelerate progress,” said Peter Sands, incoming Executive Director of the Global Fund.

“We are particularly excited to leverage the expertise of HEINEKEN as we develop innovative tools and approaches that will promote HIV prevention and behaviour change.

We also look forward to sharpening our logistics planning skills to better support our implementing partners’ efforts to deliver health services and commodities wherever they are needed.

These two efforts are vital to improving health and well-being in Africa.”

Through a series of workshops and creative support, Heineken marketers will also provide communications services to the Global Fund to ensure they are reaching the right audience, with the right message at the right time.

“Heineken has been present in Africa for over 100 years, and saw first-hand the severity of the AIDS epidemic on communities.

We provided employees with voluntary testing for HIV and treatment for HIV, tuberculosis and malaria among others from the start.

We continue to do this today and recognize there is still a lot to do,” said Jean-François van Boxmeer, CEO and Chairman of the Executive Board of Heineken.

Boxmeer says that the brewer’s partnership with the Global Fund will enable it contribute to ending these epidemics in the continent.