…as
US Aids program for Zim exceeds $1 billion
US Aids program for Zim exceeds $1 billion
Moses
Ziyambi
Ziyambi
ZAKA
– The
United States of America remains Zimbabwe’s most generous ally regardless of
political differences, with support for the country’s health sector now
totaling US$1 billion since 2013, TellZim News can report.
– The
United States of America remains Zimbabwe’s most generous ally regardless of
political differences, with support for the country’s health sector now
totaling US$1 billion since 2013, TellZim News can report.
Part of that support is
being directed towards the Voluntary Medical Male Circumcision (VMMC) which is
being implemented in 14 districts of the country including Zaka.
being directed towards the Voluntary Medical Male Circumcision (VMMC) which is
being implemented in 14 districts of the country including Zaka.
The US deputy chief of
mission at the country’s embassy in Harare, Thomas Hastings and his team visited
Ndanga on Monday to get a clearer appreciation of the work his country supports
at the district hospital.
mission at the country’s embassy in Harare, Thomas Hastings and his team visited
Ndanga on Monday to get a clearer appreciation of the work his country supports
at the district hospital.
Ndanga and St Anthony’s
Musiso Mission hospitals are the two centres offering VMMC services with US
support in the district.
Musiso Mission hospitals are the two centres offering VMMC services with US
support in the district.
Hastings was briefed on
how the program had benefitted over 36 000 men since its inception in 2013.
how the program had benefitted over 36 000 men since its inception in 2013.
Representatives from
the Zimbabwe Association of Church-related Hospitals (ZACH), which is one of
the implementing partners through ZAZIC, told the team that uptake for VMMC
services had been increasing steadily over the years.
the Zimbabwe Association of Church-related Hospitals (ZACH), which is one of
the implementing partners through ZAZIC, told the team that uptake for VMMC
services had been increasing steadily over the years.
“We have been making
incremental gains since the program began in 2013. We circumcised around 1 000
people in the first year, and I am pleased that as attitudes changed, the
output increased steadily until today. A total of 10 954 were circumcised in
the year running from October 2018 to September 2019,” said ZAZIC program
manager Dr Joseph Hove.
incremental gains since the program began in 2013. We circumcised around 1 000
people in the first year, and I am pleased that as attitudes changed, the
output increased steadily until today. A total of 10 954 were circumcised in
the year running from October 2018 to September 2019,” said ZAZIC program
manager Dr Joseph Hove.
He said communities
were now better informed and were in a better position to appreciate the health
and hygiene benefits of (VMMC).
were now better informed and were in a better position to appreciate the health
and hygiene benefits of (VMMC).
“We are strongly
encouraged by the cumulative changes in the manner by which societies that did
not practice circumcision as a traditional rite are viewing the practice today,”
said Hove.
encouraged by the cumulative changes in the manner by which societies that did
not practice circumcision as a traditional rite are viewing the practice today,”
said Hove.
He also said random
control trials conducted in East Africa over 10 years ago had indicated that
circumcising four men averted one new HIV infection.
control trials conducted in East Africa over 10 years ago had indicated that
circumcising four men averted one new HIV infection.
International Training
and Centre for Health national program officer Phiona Marongwe said the VMMC
program in Zaka had averted 9 000 new infections.
and Centre for Health national program officer Phiona Marongwe said the VMMC
program in Zaka had averted 9 000 new infections.
“This program has seen
some 36 682 men getting circumcised in Zaka district, meaning 9 000 new HIV
infections were averted, if we are to use those randomized trials as our
yardstick,” said Marongwe.
some 36 682 men getting circumcised in Zaka district, meaning 9 000 new HIV
infections were averted, if we are to use those randomized trials as our
yardstick,” said Marongwe.
The random control
trials were a fairly reliable mathematical research model which was used to
estimate the impact of circumcision in reducing the HIV prevalence rate in some
East and West African countries.
trials were a fairly reliable mathematical research model which was used to
estimate the impact of circumcision in reducing the HIV prevalence rate in some
East and West African countries.
In his remarks,
Hastings said he was pleased that the US had proved to be the country’s most
generous friend regardless of some political differences at governmental level.
Hastings said he was pleased that the US had proved to be the country’s most
generous friend regardless of some political differences at governmental level.
“The United States is
proud of its record as Zimbabwe’s most committed friend in the areas of health,
education and food security. I am impressed by the work being done with US
support here at Ndanga Hospital despite the harsh economic problems affecting
every sector and every program. As of now, some 9 000 new HIV infections have
been averted courtesy of this program.
proud of its record as Zimbabwe’s most committed friend in the areas of health,
education and food security. I am impressed by the work being done with US
support here at Ndanga Hospital despite the harsh economic problems affecting
every sector and every program. As of now, some 9 000 new HIV infections have
been averted courtesy of this program.
“The people here at
Ndanga, and indeed in Zimbabwe as a whole, have proved to be a resilient people
who know how to innovate and come up with Plan B when things get hard. The
United States is there to render support wherever we can,” said Hastings.
Ndanga, and indeed in Zimbabwe as a whole, have proved to be a resilient people
who know how to innovate and come up with Plan B when things get hard. The
United States is there to render support wherever we can,” said Hastings.
The United States
supports many HIV and Aids programs all over the world through the President’s
Emergency Plan for Aids Relief (PEPFAR) which was signed by then President
George W. Bush in 2003.
supports many HIV and Aids programs all over the world through the President’s
Emergency Plan for Aids Relief (PEPFAR) which was signed by then President
George W. Bush in 2003.
PEPFAR has received
strong bipartisan support in the country’s congress ever since, and it
represents the biggest commitment by any individual country to the fight
against HIV and Aids.
strong bipartisan support in the country’s congress ever since, and it
represents the biggest commitment by any individual country to the fight
against HIV and Aids.
Hastings said the fact
that PEPFAR had survived three administrations (Bush, Barrack Obama and Donald
Trump) with fundamental policy differences of their own was testimony to the
United States’ commitment in the global fight against HIV and Aids.
that PEPFAR had survived three administrations (Bush, Barrack Obama and Donald
Trump) with fundamental policy differences of their own was testimony to the
United States’ commitment in the global fight against HIV and Aids.
Funding is channeled
through the US Centre for Diseases Control (CDC) which has so far invested over
US$1 billion in different HIV and Aids-related programs for Zimbabwe alone.
through the US Centre for Diseases Control (CDC) which has so far invested over
US$1 billion in different HIV and Aids-related programs for Zimbabwe alone.
Through USAID, the
United States also provides millions of dollars every year towards food
security for vulnerable Zimbabweans.
United States also provides millions of dollars every year towards food
security for vulnerable Zimbabweans.
In 2019, the US
provided over US$330 million to the country; US$163 of which was directed
towards HIV and Aids programs, over US100 million towards food aid and over
US$10 million towards assisting victims of Cyclone Idai.
provided over US$330 million to the country; US$163 of which was directed
towards HIV and Aids programs, over US100 million towards food aid and over
US$10 million towards assisting victims of Cyclone Idai.
