Zim pledges $1 million to Global Fund

Tinomuda Chakanyuka

Zimbabwe has pledged a US$1 million contribution towards the Global Fund.

This was said by President Mnangagwa on Thursday at the sixth Global Fund replenishment meeting in Lyon, France. 

The Global Fund calls for countries to contribute to the organisation, and not just receive.

The Fund seeks to encourage countries to actively participate in funding for their health systems.

During its last conference in 2017, Zimbabwe was allocated US$506 million after making a US$1 million contribution.

President Mnangagwa said, “We remain committed to continue to contribute to this worthy effort, and hereby pledge US$1 million.

“As we strive towards ending AIDS by 2030, over 710 000 people are supported by the Global Fund in Zimbabwe, out of a total of 1.2 million people on Anti-Retroviral Therapy”.    

Since 2002, the Global Fund has approved nearly US$ 1.7 billion to Zimbabwe, of which over US$ 1.3 billion has been disbursed.

President Mnangagwa said the country will safeguard the gains achieved to date in fighting HIV, TB and Malaria.

He said TB detection and treatment as well as the eradication of Malaria, remain a priority for his Government.

The Global Fund groups over 100 countries globally to pool resources for accelerating the curbing of the three diseases. The funds are raised from contributions of willing donors and disbursed to selected beneficiaries.