Global Fund releases US$84m for Zim

by the Global Fund to 203 440 by the end of 2012.
Global Fund says part of the new funding would also cater for the creation of a buffer stock of six months to all 480 000 adults on treatment in the country.
The buffer stock is meant to provide secu­rity of supplies of medicines to patients.
The Global Fund agreed to raise treatment coverage together with the United States Presi­dent’s Emergency Plan for Aids Relief (PEP­FAR) from 80 000 to 140 000 and aim to have 160 000 by end of next year.
The Global Fund programme will comple­ment Government’s ongoing rollout pro­gramme under the Aids Levy, which caters for 124 000 people and the United Kingdom’s Department for International Development (DFID) that is funding treatment for 35 900 patients.
According to the Global Fund, these com­bined efforts would make it possible for the country to attain universal coverage of ARV provision to people living with HIV and Aids in need of treatment.
Universal coverage of ARVs is accessibility of treatment by at least 85 percent of people in need of ARVs. About 593 000 HIV positive people in Zimbabwe whose CD4 Count is at 350 and below are in need of ARVs.
“The Global Fund will continue to work very closely with the government of Zim­babwe and with other partners, including PEPFAR, to ensure that the anticipated gains are sustained,” further reads the statement.
Global Fund co-ordinator in Zimbabwe Mr Rangarirai Chiteure described the devel­opment as a positive step towards assuring beneficiaries of treatment.
“This is a positive development for the coun­try given the few challenges Zimbabwe has been experiencing in the past few months. It will give confidence to the country and the people receiving treatment from public institu­tions,” he said.
Mr Chiteure said the issue of the buffer stock would mean that in the face of any chal­lenges the country would have six months supply of drugs while other options were being looked into.