Rumbidzayi Zinyuke-Senior Health Reporter
ZIMBABWE is stepping up efforts to safeguard gains made in the fight against HIV and AIDS through increased domestic resource mobilisation, strategic partnerships and continued investment in the health workforce as the country pushes towards ending AIDS as a public health threat by 2030.
The Government is working with development partners and key stakeholders to close potential funding gaps following the withdrawal of United States-funded HIV programmes at the end of September, with authorities assuring the public that there have been no disruptions to service provision so far.
The efforts are part of the country’s broader commitment to achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC), strengthening the resilience of the health system and advancing the National Development Strategy 2 (NDS2).
In an interview, National AIDS Council (NAC) chief executive officer Dr Bernard Madzima said the country was determined to protect the gains already achieved and ensure that changes in the global development financing environment did not derail progress towards ending AIDS as a public health threat.
“As far as meeting the targets for ending AIDS as a public health threat is concerned, we will guard those targets jealously, noting that we have already achieved the 95-95-95 targets for 2025. The National AIDS Council is at the centre of making sure that the HIV programme continues on its path to end HIV and AIDS as a public health threat by 2030,” he said.
Dr Madzima said the Government was proactively assessing the impact of the funding changes while exploring alternative sources of support to ensure continuity of HIV prevention, treatment and care services.
He said the withdrawal of US-funded programmes had not affected the supply of medicines and other essential services, as procurement and supply chain processes had already been initiated before the funding changes took effect.
“If you look at the provision of medicines, the processes would have started and the supply chain will still be intact. So, as from September up to now, we are yet to see any effects. The Government is seized with making sure that there are no disruptions to the HIV programme or any other programme for that matter,” he said.
Dr Madzima however, said about 6 000 health and community health workers had been affected by the closure of the US-funded programmes, highlighting the need for sustainable domestic financing of essential health services.
“The immediate impact was loss of work for the health workers who were supported by the US Government. These include doctors, nurses, pharmacists, laboratory scientists, other ancillary staff like those who ride motorbikes, as well as community health workers.
“All in all, we are talking about 2 000 health workers and then 4 000 community health workers who were under the US Government funding.
“We are, however, aware that some health workers have been absorbed by the Health Service Commission and are now working in the Ministry of Health and Child Care. There are also some players who are coming on board with new programmes expected to strengthen support for the country’s health priorities,” he said.
Dr Madzima said NAC was working closely with the Ministry of Health and Child Care, the Health Service Commission and other stakeholders to continuously assess the situation and identify areas requiring intervention.
The assessment covers the entire HIV service delivery chain, including human resources, medicine supply, transportation, laboratory services, clinical care and community-based interventions.
He said the Government was also engaging the Ministry of Finance, Parliamentarians and other stakeholders to ensure that emerging resource requirements were considered during preparations for the 2027 National Budget.
Dr Madzima said the changing global funding environment meant Zimbabwe had to broaden its resource base and bring more players on board to support health programmes.
“This is something which is affecting all countries that used to heavily rely on donors. The mantra is that countries should now fund their own health programmes. Zimbabwe is no exception.
“We need all hands on deck and everyone on board to make sure that we increase the resource envelope for health programmes going forward because the usual support we have been used to receiving from donors, that era is gone,” he said.
The shift towards domestic resource mobilisation is consistent with the Government’s broader health financing reforms, which seek to reduce reliance on external assistance and strengthen the country’s capacity to finance its own development priorities.
The Government’s approach reflects the need to build a resilient health system capable of maintaining essential services regardless of fluctuations in external financing.
Under NDS2, strengthening the health delivery system, improving access to quality healthcare and advancing UHC remain important pillars of national development.
Source: Govt moves to safeguard HIV gains amid funding shifts – herald
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