happiness Chikwanha
Paidamoyo Chipunza
Herald Reporter
Zimbabwe has pledged US$1 million to the Global Fund to Fight HIV, Tuberculosis and Malaria and the money will be taken from the Aids Levy.This is the second time Zimbabwe has contributed to the fund after it made a similar contribution in 2003.
Health and Child Care Minister David Parirenyatwa confirmed to The Herald that money would be taken from the National Aids Trust Fund, commonly known as Aids Levy, to show the country’s commitment in shared responsibility.
“We are at a time when we can make a transformative difference in the fight against the three pandemics. Zimbabwe is making this contribution because we understand that shared responsibility is a key factor to defeat the diseases both domestically and globally,” he said.
Minister Parirenyatwa announced the pledge to the Global Fund last week ahead of the fourth Global Fund replenishment meeting which took place in Washington DC yesterday.
The Global Fund described Zimbabwe’s contribution as a demonstration of commitment to work in partnership against the diseases.
The Global Fund is one of the biggest funders of the fight against HIV, Malaria and TB programmes in Zimbabwe.
Since 2003, the fund contributed US$850 million to Zimbabwe to fight the three diseases.
Collections from the Aids levy continue to increase since the adoption of the multicurrency system in 2009.
The National Aids Council collected US$5,7 million in 2009, US$26,5 million in 2012 and projections indicate the collections will increase to US$33 million in 2013 and US$47 million in 2016.
Through support from the Global Fund, the Aids levy and other partners, Zimbabwe has managed to place over 630 000 people on treatment.
About 25 200 cases of TB have also been detected and treated while 4,2 million insecticide- treated nets were distributed.
Online Reporter