by Health reporter
Government does not receive direct cash from the Global Fund, but only Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs) and COVID-19 test kits that are purchased through the Global Fund system and administered by the United Nation Development Program (UNDP) on behalf of the Government of Zimbabwe.
The Ministry of Health and Child Care clarified this following false claims by some government critics on social media that cash donations from the Global Fund were being abused by Government. A joint statement by the Health and Child Care and Finance and Economic Development ministries yesterday revealed that all COVID-19 test kits received from the Global Fund system are distributed for use only in the public sector laboratories and not in the private sector.
“It is important to emphasise that no Global Fund supported test kits are or were released to the private sector. Instead, the private sector procures its own test kits and this provides the reason for charging fees to their patients,” reads part of the statement.
In the press statement, government acknowledged and appreciated the support from development partners towards the COVID-19 response in cash and in kind.
Government said the support has been targeted towards eight pillars of the response plan namely, coordination, planning and monitoring, risk communication and community engagement, surveillance, rapid response teams and case investigating, points of entry, national laboratories, infection prevention and control, case management and procurement, operational support and logistics.
Government further revealed that the commitment by development partners now stands at US$234 million, while disbursements by the development partners as at 28 January 2021 was at US$119 million. Projected disbursements for 2021 amount to US$134 million.
“The Global Fund support towards the COVID-19 response amounts to US$49 million, comprising of savings (US$4 949 082) and new Money/Grant (US$45 million). The resources have been earmarked towards mitigating COVID-19 impact on HIV, TB, Malaria programs, reinforcing national COVID-19 response and urgent improvements in Health and community systems.
“Of the US$45 million new Grant, US$17. 5 million worth of equipment has been delivered, US$12.5 million deliveries are underway. About US$15 million goods have already been ordered for which delivery is expected in the second quarter of 2021,” reads the statement.
Meanwhile, as at 31 January 2021, the country had recorded 33 388 cases, 26 044 recoveries and 1 217 deaths.
