adminTinomuda Chakanyuka Senior Reporter
ZIMBABWE’S health budget is the sixth biggest in Africa, and the country is not doing badly in terms of resources to the health sector, UNAids country director, Mr Girmary Haile has said.
This is despite the budget falling short of the 15 percent threshold under the Abuja Declaration of 2001. The country’s health budget for 2018 is about nine percent of the total budget up from 6,7 percent last year. Speaking in Harare last week, Mr Haile said criticism of Zimbabwe’s health budget was informed by the negative perception the country has suffered over the past years. He was speaking during the launch of the Zimbabwe Private Sector HIV/Aids and Wellness Co-ordination Board (ZIPSHAW). Mr Haile said the country should not pay attention to the negative publicity it gets but should focus on continuing the good work that is being done to deliver quality health care.
“Yes, health budget has to reach 15 percent and we are still at nine percent, even though there has been progress from last year. But I think you are listening too much to the negative news about Zimbabwe out there. Zimbabwe in terms of size of budget is the sixth biggest in Africa, but people still think it’s bad. It’s not,” said Mr Haile.
He said the country can draw lessons from countries such as Eritrea whose health budget was above the Abuja Declaration threshold. Mr Haile urged the private sector to help in mobilising resources for the health sector as a way of improving the country’s health budget to meet the set standards.
“In my country Eritrea, over 50 percent of the total budget goes towards education and health. In Cuba 56 percent of their budget goes to education and health. I think if the private sector chips in to generate that resource for the health sector, the budget can grow beyond 15 percent or even become the biggest or second biggest in Africa,” he said.
Mr Haile also praised Zimbabwe for leading the global agenda on HIV prevention.
“Hon David Parirenyatwa has brought a very strong message across the world, whenever we talk about global coalition on prevention, no one can move a step forward without mentioning Dr Parirenyatwa. Even as we speak now, the new lessons show good practices are still coming from Zimbabwe,” he said.
Earlier this year Finance Minister Patrick Chinamasa increased funding allocated to the health sector to $520 million from $408 following pressure from Parliamentarians. Members of the Portfolio Committee on Health and other Parliamentarians argued that the budget fell far too short of the Abuja Declaration threshold. In acceding to the legislators’ pressure, Minister Chinamasa highlighted the need to appreciate the unavailability of funds.
The Ministry of Health and Child Care has been on record saying it needed a budget of about US$1,1 billion to effectively deliver quality healthcare across the country. -@irielyan
Online Reporter