Published by the government of Zimbabwe
Yvonne Maonde
28 August 2007
Harare — ZIMBABWE has over the past few weeks received more than US$7 million from the Global Fund on Malaria, Tuberculosis and HIV/Aids to buy anti-retroviral drugs and fund other health programmes, the Minister of Health and Child Welfare, Dr David Parirenyatwa, has said.
In a recent interview, the minister said Zimbabwe got the money under the Global Fund's fifth round.
He said a large chunk of the money would be used to buy ARVs - which prolong the lives of people living with HIV - train doctors and nurses involved in HIV/Aids programmes, and purchase laboratory equipment at hospitals.
"About US$30 million is still outstanding and we hope it will be released soon. Part of the funds would be channelled towards upgrading hospitals. There is a shortage of drugs in most of our local hospitals, which are on demand, as well as purchasing equipment which will enable them to function without any problems or having to transfer patients to other hospitals," said Dr Parirenyatwa.
Zimbabwe had already applied for more money under round seven and was awaiting the response of the Global Fund.
"As you know, we were denied round six, but we have already applied for round seven and we are waiting for their response," Dr Parirenyatwa said.
He urged the private sector to sell ARVs at a minimal cost to ensure availability and accessibility to all those who require them.
Despite the fact that Zimbabwe was among some of the countries reeling under the effects of HIV/Aids, it has been getting a raw deal from donor agencies for political reasons.
The donors are giving Zimbabwe only US$14 per person for HIV and Aids response programmes yet its neighbours in the region were getting up to US$240 per person.
Last year, President Mugabe said denial of assistance on political grounds weakens international efforts to fight the pandemic.
Addressing the 61st session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, Cde Mugabe said the world body should condemn the tendency to use assistance in the fight against HIV/Aids as reward for political compliance.
However, against this background, Zimbabwe has registered some modest success in reducing the HIV/Aids prevalence rate from about 26 percent in 2000 to 18,1 percent in 2006 using its own resources.
Zimbabwe has about 340 000 people living with HIV who need ARVs, but only 80 000 are getting the drugs.
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