Herald Reporter
Zimbabwe yesterday committed $1 million to the Global Fund 2016 replenishment effort to fight HIV and Aids, Tuberculosis and Malaria. President Mugabe announced the pledge in a statement yesterday saying the investments were going a long way in saving millions of lives. “Since the inception of the Global Fund to HIV and Aids, TB and malaria, Zimbabwe has been awarded grants totalling $1,57 billion,” he said.

“These investments have contributed significantly towards our aspirations for better health for our nation not only through the three disease areas but also by helping strengthen our healthy systems.

“This support has contributed significantly towards the reduction of the burden of HIV and Aids, TB and malaria. The Fund’s investment in HIV and Aids together with our very own innovative initiative National Aids Trust Fund has saved millions of life.”

President Mugabe added: “In 2012, in the last replenishment, our country committed $1 million to the fund and subsequently met its obligation. As we all move towards another replenishment, we realise the importance and value of supporting this noble endeavour. I therefore, on behalf of Zimbabwe, commit $1 million towards this replenishment effort.”

The Global Fund to Fight Aids, Tuberculosis and Malaria is the world’s largest public health financier.

Founded in 2002, the Fund operates as a partnership between governments, civil society, the private sector and people affected by the diseases.

This partnership raises and invests nearly $4 billion a year to support programmes run by local experts in countries and communities most in need. To date, the Fund has disbursed more than $28 billion and its programmes have saved over 17 million lives.

The Global Fund undertakes a “replenishment” effort once every three years, to secure funding pledges from donors, allowing for forward planning in the fight against HIV and Aids, tuberculosis and malaria.

Currently, the Fund provides more than 20 percent of global funding for HIV and Aids, more than 50 percent of international financing for malaria, and more than 70 percent of international funding for tuberculosis.

As of September 2015, Global Fund-financed programmes had provided anti-retroviral therapy to 8.1 million people living with HIV and Aids; reached 3.1 million HIV-positive mothers with services to prevent transmission to their children; detected and treated 13.2 million tuberculosis cases; distributed more than 548 million insecticide-treated bed nets; and treated 470 million cases of malaria.

Global Fund financing comes primarily from the public sector, with approximately 95 percent of total funding coming from donor governments, and the remaining five percent coming from the private sector, foundations and innovative financing initiatives.

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