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The grants will cover the period January 2012 to December 2014 to help strengthen the country’s HIV and Aids, TB, malaria and systems strengthening programmes, a Country Coordinating Mechanism (CCM) official has said.
In an interview on the sidelines of a CCM stakeholders’ meeting held in Gweru on Friday, CCM coordinator, Mr Rangarirai Chiteure said the country continued to score successes in its Global Fund-funded HIV and Aids, TB, malaria and systems strengthening programmes.
Since 2002, the Global Fund has approved grants worth more than $600 million. For the period 2010 to 2011, the Global Fund provided $162,8 milion to Zimbabwe.
Mr Chiteure said Zimbabwe has received $83,9 million from the Global Fund this year alone.
He urged stakeholders that included National Aids Council, people living with HIV and Aids, care givers as well as Ministry of Health and Child Welfare to continue working hard as the whole world was now focused on the country following last year’s successes and increased grants.
Mr Chiteure said the Global Fund was expected to open a new funding opportunity by the end of next month.
He said countries submitted a $1,6 billion next call proposal to the Global Fund in anticipation of the international organisation’s opening of new funding opportunities by end of next month.
He said the country was expecting a team of officials from the international organisation to visit the country in September.
“We received good ratings. This could bring a possible call from GF officials and open opportunities for more funding for our GF supported programmes. This could bring a sigh of relief to some of our programmes. If this funding opportunity comes, Zimbabwe should certainly apply,” said Mr Chiteure.
CCM was on a nationwide tour of all the country’s 10 provinces to appraise, update and exchange notes with stakeholders on all Global Fund-funded programmes.
The team was expected to wrap up its tour on Saturday.
“Our role as CCM is two-fold. Firstly, we apply for grants to the GF. When the grants come, CCM plays the role of the overseer. This is to ensure that implementation is carried out without hiccups and that the target beneficiaries benefit. GF encourages multi-stakeholders involvement in all its processes.
“Our meetings are meant to forge integration, harmonisation and alignment of programmes among stakeholders. Our main observation so far is that our programmes are doing well as confirmed by the GF rating of A1 with HIV and TB getting 100 percent and malaria and HSS being rated 90 percent (A2),” said Mr Chiteure.
Online Reporter