Reprieve for Zimbabwe's HIV patients as Global Fund extends funding

GLOBAL Fund has extended its financial support on combating HIV/AIDS in Zimbabwe to December 2014.

Marcela Rojo, a media officer with Global Fund told Bulawayo24 News that the extension is "to avoid disruption to program implementation, which includes patients on treatment."

"In reference to your article about the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, please note that the Global Fund currently funds over 50% of the people on ARVs in Zimbabwe and this commitment runs from January 2012 to December 2014.

"The extension of funds for the current program is expected to be signed during the second quarter of 2012 (Phase 2). However,  funding for the first phase has been extended to avoid disruption to program implementation, which includes patients on treatment," said Rojo.

Early this week, Matabeleland North acting medical director Nyasha Masuka told inmates at Khami Prison in Bulawayo that the Global Fund would withdraw its ARV drug support in 2013.

"With Global Fund pulling out this would affect government efforts to combat the disease.

"Most of the HIV patients are surviving on donor funded drugs. We need to start planning for life after Global Fund pull out" said Masuka.

However, ROJO said if Zimbabwe does not have access to new funding, the country would still be eligible to apply for "Continuity of Services" at the Global Fund (in order to get funding for another two years) so that patients that are currently on drugs stay on treatment.

This would therefore guarantee that patients on treatment receive support at least until the end of 2016, said Rojo.