Chronicle Editor
Robin Muchetu, Senior Reporter
ZIMBABWE has so far received assistance worth US$234 million from development partners to fight Covid-19 since the country recorded its firs cases last year.
In an update on the development partners’ support towards the Covid-19 response in the country, Finance and Economic Development Minister Professor Mthuli Ncube expressed gratitude for the funding, adding that the support has changed the face of the pandemic in the country since it recorded its first cases.
“The commitment by Development Partners now stands at US$234 million. Disbursements by the Development Partners as at 28 January 2021 stand at US$119 million. The Global Fund support towards the Covid-19 response amounts to US$49 million, comprising savings (US$4 949 082) and new money/grant (US$45 million). These resources have been earmarked towards mitigating Covid-19 impact on HIV, Tuberculosis, Malaria programmes, reinforcing national Covid-19 response and urgent improvements in health and community systems,” he said in a statement.
Prof Ncube said of the US$45million new Grant, US$17.5 million worth of equipment has been delivered while US$12.5 million worth of deliveries are underway.
He said also set the record straight in regards to the nature of assistance that is rendered from partners.
“The Ministry of Health and Child Care does not receive direct cash from the Global Fund system but only Personal Protective Equipment and Covid-19 test kits that are purchased through the Global Fund system and administered by the UNDP on behalf of the Government of Zimbabwe,” he said.
There were outcries as to why people were paying to get tested for Covid-19 yet funding had been availed for test kits.
“All the Covid-19 test kits received from the Global Fund system are distributed for use in the public sector laboratories only. It is important to emphasize that NO Global Fund supported test kits are or were released to the Private Sector. Instead, the private sector procures its own test kits and this provided the reason for charging fees to their patients,” he said.
Prof Ncube noted that the country was in the middle of fighting a second wave of the pandemic which witnessed increased infection rates resulting in an increased number of deaths compared with the first wave. – @NyembeziMu
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