Online Reporter
Nqobile Tshili, [email protected]
THE Ministry of Health and Child Care has engaged the Treasury to avail more funds to cover the funding gap caused by the withdrawal of donor support to the sector by the United States’ Agency for International Development (USAID).
The withdrawal followed recent executive orders by the US President, Donald Trump.
Through the US President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) the United States was contributing 31 percent to the country’s HIV and Aids response through USAID.
Following President Trump’s inauguration last month, his administration froze international funding, which has affected Zimbabwe and other developing countries.
Finance and Economic Development Minister Professor Mthuli Ncube recently revealed that the country needs internal resource mobilisation to finance various sectors of the economy as donor funding is not sustainable.
Responding to questions in the National Assembly during the Wednesday Question and Answer session, Health and Child Care Minister Dr Douglas Mombeshora said the nation must not panic as there is enough HIV medicine.
“We sat down and assessed the type of medicines that we need. It is not correct that all medicines were coming through USAID. I think it was 31 percent,” he said.
“We have medicines to take us up to the end of June but by June, we will have replenished. People should not panic, there is enough medication and medication will be available forever,” said Dr Mombeshora.
In response to the question regarding the US President’s executive order, Dr Mombeshora said Zimbabwe had a number of beneficiaries under PEPFAR.
Dr Mombeshora said his Ministry is engaging the Ministry of Finance, Economic Development and Investment Promotion so that it avails more funding towards HIV and Aids interventions.
He said while the country has enough stocks to support those living with HIV, the USAID supported health workers and organisations have been the most affected so far.
“Our ministry will be approaching Parliament of Zimbabwe for support during the supplementary budget. There are other organisations and healthcare personnel who have been receiving funding from USAID,” said Dr Mombeshora.
“We have doctors and nurses who were employed in clinics where HIV positive people were being treated and these healthcare personnel lost their jobs because of the order. We are, therefore, seized with scouting for replacements.”
He said the US President’s executive order has also affected the transportation of medicines to remote areas. Dr Mombeshora said vehicles and motorbikes, which health care workers were using to transport medicines are no longer available.
“Motorbikes, which were being used to transport blood samples were also affected by the executive order hence my Ministry is requesting extra funding to cater for such key personnel,” he said.
Dr Mombeshora said the country has, however, made strides in educating people about HIV and AIDS through the 95/95/95 approach. —@nqotshili
