The Global Fund has released $236 million dollars to support Zimbabwe’s efforts to combat AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria.
The money will cover programs to be implemented by the health sector in the next three years. Out of the funds, $183 million will go to HIV and AIDS programs, $19 million to tuberculosis and $34 million to malaria.
Officials said some programs under the released funds have already begun and others are set of roll out in July.
For the first time in 10 years, the Global Fund last year canceled pending funding rounds for countries, suspending new grants due to lack of funding from donors, most Western, who are facing financial crises in their own backyards.
Projects that are currently supported by the fund have been guaranteed resources until they run their lifespans, but there will be no money for new initiatives until 2014.
Director Albert Chambati of the Justice Aids Trust said dwindling international support for organizations like the Global Fund will affect the ordinary people, especially in developing countries.
He told VOA reporter Tatenda Gumbo immediate action needs to be taken to avoid disaster in the near future.