By Virginia Njovo
Despite mounting fears over the recent suspension of USAID to Zimbabwe, the National Aids Council recently assured citizens that the country had enough Antiretroviral Treatment (ART) drugs to last until April 2026.
NAC Masvingo Acting Provincial Manager Munyengetero Masunga gave the assurance during belated provincial World AIDS Day commemorations held in Bikita recently.
“We currently have adequate stocks of ART drugs to sustain patients until April 2026. This is a result of strong collaboration between the Ministry of Health and Child Care, NAC, and NatPharm,” said Masunga.
He noted that to avoid drug expiries and storage issues, ART medications were being delivered in staggered batches and said preparations for post- April 2026 drug supply were already underway.
“The quantification process has started for the period beyond April 2026,” he said.
The reassurance comes amid growing public anxiety after the U.S. government halted 83 percent of its USAID funded programs in Zimbabwe, a move that threatened critical health services including HIV treatment.
Earlier this year, Masvingo residents appealed to the city council to close the funding gap left by USAID’s exit, particularly to protect essential services like ARV provision.
For years, USAID supported Zimbabwe’s healthcare sector by funding medical staff salaries, providing equipment, and constructing rural health facilities. Its sudden withdrawal has left vulnerable communities at risk, with the government struggling to meet healthcare demands on its own.
While authorities have insisted that alternative plans were in place and urged citizens not to panic, the broader impact of donor funding cut continues to loom across sub-Saharan Africa.
As donor support dwindles, calls are growing louder for African governments to take greater ownership of their healthcare systems, through increased budget allocations, partnerships, and community-based health initiatives aimed at long-term resilience.
