How will the Mnangagwa regime afford ARVs when they can’t even provide paracetamol?

This abrupt policy shift has sent shockwaves through global health communities, particularly in countries like Zimbabwe, where reliance on such aid is substantial.

The Mnangagwa administration has pledged to address the resultant funding shortfall.

But given the nation’s beleaguered healthcare system, there is widespread skepticism about the government’s capacity to sustain antiretroviral (ARV) therapy for over a million citizens.

Since its inception in 2003, PEPFAR has been instrumental in combating HIV/AIDS globally, with Zimbabwe being a significant beneficiary.

The program has provided over $1.7 billion to Zimbabwe since 2006, with annual contributions exceeding $200 million.

These funds have been channeled into various initiatives, including the provision of ARVs, training healthcare workers, and strengthening health systems.

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As a result, approximately 1.2 million Zimbabweans living with HIV have been receiving life-saving treatment.

The suspension of PEPFAR funding poses an immediate threat to these individuals.

Without consistent access to ARVs, patients risk viral rebound, leading to increased morbidity and mortality.

Moreover, the interruption of treatment can foster the development of drug-resistant HIV strains, complicating future treatment efforts and potentially leading to a resurgence of the epidemic.

Zimbabwe’s healthcare infrastructure has been deteriorating for years.

Once a beacon of medical excellence in Africa, the nation’s public health facilities now grapple with severe shortages of essential medicines, including basic analgesics like paracetamol.

Reports have highlighted dire conditions: hospitals lacking plaster of Paris for fractures, leading to the use of cardboard splints; patients in Marange sleeping on floors or makeshift beds due to inadequate resources; and over 2,000 women annually succumbing to cervical cancer because of insufficient treatment equipment.

Maternal mortality remains alarmingly high, with approximately 2,500 women dying each year during childbirth, primarily due to inadequate maternal healthcare services.

The government’s inability to procure basic medical supplies raises serious concerns about its capacity to independently sustain complex and costly HIV/AIDS programs.

The healthcare workforce, already stretched thin, faces additional strain as funding cuts lead to job losses.

For instance, the recent aid suspension resulted in the termination of numerous healthcare workers, including HIV nurses, exacerbating the challenges in delivering essential services.

In response to the funding crisis, Deputy Minister of Health and Child Care, Sleiman Kwidini, announced the formation of a team of technocrats tasked with devising sustainable solutions to bridge the funding gaps.

While this initiative reflects a commitment to maintaining health programs, the government’s track record raises concerns.

The same administration has overseen the decline of the healthcare system, leading to questions about its ability to independently finance and manage comprehensive HIV/AIDS treatment programs.

One proposed measure is the utilization of “sin taxes”—levies on alcohol, cigarettes, fast food, and sugary beverages—to bolster health sector funding.

While this approach could generate additional revenue, its efficacy remains uncertain, especially given the existing economic challenges and the extensive resources required to sustain HIV/AIDS programs.

Moreover, the government of Zimbabwe is notorious for its promotion and protection of corruption.

This is one of the main reasons our country’s health care system is in such a deplorable state.

How can anyone be confident that revenue from these “sin taxes” will even reach the intended beneficiaries?

If those connected to power can loot over $3 billion each year, what is to stop them from also laying their hands on these taxes?

Let’s remember that the mismanagement and alleged misappropriation of revenues from Zimbabwe’s abundant natural resources, such as gold, platinum, diamonds, lithium, and chromium, have historically undermined the country’s self-sufficiency.

This includes in healthcare financing.

The immediate victims of the funding suspension are the 1.2 million Zimbabweans currently on ARV therapy.

Without access to these medications, individuals on ARV treatment face a resurgence of viral loads, leading to opportunistic infections and, ultimately, death.

The broader community is also at risk, as untreated individuals have higher chances of transmitting the virus, potentially reversing the gains made over the past decades in controlling the epidemic.

The current crisis underscores the dangers of over-reliance on foreign aid for essential health services.

While international support has been invaluable, it has also inadvertently fostered a dependency that leaves nations vulnerable to policy shifts in donor countries.

Zimbabwe’s predicament serves as a stark reminder of the need for robust, transparent, and accountable domestic resource mobilization to ensure the sustainability of critical health programs.

In conclusion, the Mnangagwa administration faces a formidable challenge: to demonstrate genuine commitment to revamping the healthcare system and ensuring uninterrupted ARV provision.

This requires not only financial investment but also systemic reforms to address corruption, enhance resource management, and rebuild public trust.

The health and lives of over a million Zimbabweans depend on the government’s ability to rise to this occasion and transform policy pronouncements into tangible actions.

The lives of over 1.2 million Zimbabweans are at risk.

Not because of President Trump’s suspension of aid, but as a direct result of corruption in high offices in Zimbabwe.

• Tendai Ruben Mbofana is a social justice advocate and writer. Please feel free to WhatsApp or Call: +263715667700 | +263782283975, or email: mbofana.tendairuben73@gmail.com, or visit website: https://mbofanatendairuben.news.blog/