New Zimbabwe, 1 November 2014

ZIMBABWE is set to receive a $435 million grant for HIV and Aids from the Global Fund to boost its HIV programmes which are heavily underfunded, a top United Nations official has announced.

At the moment the country needs $525 million for the next three years.

With the Global Fund money this means Zimbabwe now has a shortfall of $90 million which it needs to get from other sources.

The gap is also going to be further reduced by the Aids levy which has this year been pegged at around $40 million. The Aids levy is a form of revenue government collects from workers.

There were fears that aid agencies were shifting their attention from HIV and Aids to other related programmes.

"Zimbabwe was one of the first five countries invited to apply under the new funding model that the Global Fund introduced. Under that model there is some $435 million from 2014 to 2016 for a three year programme in relation to HIV," UNAIDS country director Michael Bartos told the media recently.

The Global Fund which contributes 35 percent of Zimbabwe's Aids funding revised its grant application mechanisms two years ago and since then Zimbabwe had not received any funding from the group.

The US government through its President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief Programme every year contributes to the country's HIV programmes.

"There is also a significant contribution from the US government through its PERPFAR programme and as well as from a number of other donors," Bartos said.

In 2008 Zimbabwe was blacklisted by international AIDS funders after the central bank diverted some money which was meant for Aids programmes.

According to health records the country's HIV investments have grown from US$150 million in 2011 to US$260 million in 2013.

Out of Zimbabwe's 12,9 million people, according to the 2012 census, at least 1,39 million people are living with HIV, 170 717 of which are children.

Zimbabwe has done tremendously well in managing HIV prevalence which was at above 28 percent in 1997 but has now fallen to 15 percent.

by Staff Reporter

Source: New Zimbabwe