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Zimbabwe: Country Seeks U.S.$500m From Global Fund
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 Published by the government of Zimbabwe |
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The Herald (Harare)
3 July 2008
Posted to the web 3 July 2008
Harare
ZIMBABWE has already submitted a US$500 million application to fight HIV and Aids, Tuberculosis and Malaria to the Global Fund under round 8.
Chairperson of Zimbabwe's co-ordinating mechanism, Cde David Parirenyatwa, who is also the Minister of Health and Child Welfare, said the application that was submitted on Tuesday took almost three months to draft.
In the past, the Global Fund has turned down Zimbabwe's applications, forcing the Government to suspect that the denials were politically-motivated.
Speaking at a ceremony to celebrate the sending off of the round 8 proposal on Tuesday in Harare, Cde Parirenyatwa was confident the country would this time around receive the funds.
"In the round 8 proposal submitted to the Global Fund today (Tuesday), Zimbabwe is applying for five-year grants for the three disease components totalling US$496 048 997," he said.
The HIV and Aids proposal titled "Towards Universal Access: Addressing Critical gaps in HIV prevention, care, treatment and support" seeks US$296 752 070 while the proposal for TB requires US$58 million.
The TB theme is "Towards Universal Access: Ensuring access to high DOTS".
A further US$59 568 673 is being sought for the Malaria treatment and control programme.
The co-ordinating mechanism committee has also submitted a separate requisition for US$81 728 254 to cater for the Health Systems Strengthening.
Cde Parirenyatwa said the process that led to the submission of the round 8 proposal started in October last year after the round 7 application was turned down.
Zimbabwe's proposals have been turned down save for rounds 1 and 5 while other countries in the region have benefited a lot.
"To date, Zimbabwe has succeeded under round 1 and 5 proposals to the Global Fund getting approval for funding worth US$125 671 911.
"The amount approved for Zimbabwe to date is far much less compared to what other countries in the region got," Dr Parirenyatwa said.
Zambia has received US$514 063 474 and Malawi US$416 693 268.
In round 1, Zimbabwe got US$14 100 000 for HIV and Aids and US$8 559 911 for Malaria.
Under round 5, it received US$62 478 991 for HIV and Aids, US$28 491 009 for Malaria and US$12 041 766 for TB.
Cde Parirenyatwa said the country's unsuccessful applications for funding from the Global Fund have created gaps in the fight against HIV and Aids under round 6 and TB and Malaria under round 7.
"It is therefore the hope of the CCM that the round 8 proposal submitted today would be approved by the Global Fund so as to close the gaps created by failed Round 6 and 7," he said.
"We are not receiving as much as other countries in the region. I do not want to say it is because of sanctions but I am tempted to say so." In the past, the country has made modest proposals to the Global Fund.
"We have tried to be modest in the past but now we feel it is the right time to strike the right cord. We hope we will get the money. We are under trying times in Zimbabwe at the moment and I am praying that the country stabilises."
Cde Parirenyatwa condemned violence and urged Zimbabweans to work together.
"We have had incidents of violence. We cannot accept that. It is sad, no more simulations of war. It is a thing we do not want to see.
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"For now, there should be peace. We do not want a situation where there is bloodshed. Enough is enough. Zimbabweans should unite. Let bygones be bygones," he said.
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