Efforts by Zimbabwe to secure additional funds from the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria have not been successful as the country’s application did not meet Global Fund guidelines, sources informed on the process said Wednesday.
Zimbabwe health officials had submitted the national strategic plan application hoping to obtain funding to fight HIV/AIDS and other diseases through an alternative method.
Officials in Harare said that in submitting the application they were fully aware that due to the an ongoing restructuring of Zimbabwe’s five-year strategic plan, they would be unable to include requisite details on budgets and implementation monitoring.
But the Ministry of Health said its application for Global Fund Round 11 funds will be considered by the international organization. Zimbabwe was not awarded funds in Round 10, but officials say there is funding available from previous rounds.
Health Minister Henry Madzorera said that given the rejection of the alternative strategic plan proposal, the Round 11 request will have to be reworked. He said Zimbabwe needs to secure funding in Round 11 to maintain programs at current levels.
Global Fund sources said success rates for annual rounds are about 50 percent. They noted that Zimbabwe has received more than 14 grants and has four active plans.
But HIV/AIDS program coordinators reliant on donor funds say a lack of funding will be fatal. Justice AIDS Trust Coordinator Albert Chambati told reporter Tatenda Gumbo that if funding is not replenished many health sectors and patients will feel the impact.