News / National
Zimbabwe needs US$15m for contraceptives annually
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The Zimbabwe National Family Planning Council (ZNFPC) has enlisted the support of two key parliamentary portfolio committees in a renewed push for timely and adequate disbursement of funds for contraceptives and related reproductive health services.
In a strategic meeting held in Kadoma today, ZNFPC engaged members of the Portfolio Committees on Health and Child Care, and Budget, Finance, Economic Development and Investment Promotion, to highlight the funding gaps threatening the sustainability of family planning initiatives across the country.
ZNFPC chief executive officer Mr Farai Machinga said while government efforts under the Second Republic had yielded progress, the current domestic funding levels remain significantly below what is needed to meet national contraceptive demands.
"From 2022 to 2024, the government invested approximately US$4.5 million in contraceptives," Machinga said. "This is commendable, but it remains far short of the estimated US$15 million required annually to meet national needs - especially in the face of diminishing external donor support."
In recent years, Zimbabwe has faced a sharp decline in international aid for contraceptive procurement, shifting pressure onto the national budget to close the gap and ensure universal access to family planning services.
To respond to the growing demand and funding shortfall, ZNFPC is lobbying for two key policy interventions: the inclusion of family planning services in all medical aid cover and access to significant resources from the anticipated National Health Insurance (NHI) Fund.
Machinga said both measures would not only improve access but also help institutionalise long-term financing mechanisms for reproductive health.
"Including family planning on all medical aid schemes will normalise and prioritise these services, while also easing the burden on public sector provision," he explained. "Tapping into the NHI Fund would provide a more sustainable pool of resources to guarantee that no woman or girl is left behind due to lack of access."
The engagement with Parliament is part of a broader advocacy strategy by ZNFPC to ensure that family planning is positioned as a critical component of national development and public health - with far-reaching benefits in reducing maternal mortality, preventing unintended pregnancies, and empowering communities.
Committee members who attended the meeting acknowledged the urgency of the matter, pledging to take the concerns forward during national budget planning sessions.
The ZNFPC has been a key player in Zimbabwe's reproductive health landscape, working alongside the Ministry of Health and Child Care to provide contraceptive commodities, education, and outreach services across all provinces.
As Zimbabwe moves toward achieving universal health coverage and its Vision 2030 development goals, stakeholders say sustained investment in family planning is essential - not just as a health priority, but as a cornerstone of socio-economic development and gender equality.
In a strategic meeting held in Kadoma today, ZNFPC engaged members of the Portfolio Committees on Health and Child Care, and Budget, Finance, Economic Development and Investment Promotion, to highlight the funding gaps threatening the sustainability of family planning initiatives across the country.
ZNFPC chief executive officer Mr Farai Machinga said while government efforts under the Second Republic had yielded progress, the current domestic funding levels remain significantly below what is needed to meet national contraceptive demands.
"From 2022 to 2024, the government invested approximately US$4.5 million in contraceptives," Machinga said. "This is commendable, but it remains far short of the estimated US$15 million required annually to meet national needs - especially in the face of diminishing external donor support."
In recent years, Zimbabwe has faced a sharp decline in international aid for contraceptive procurement, shifting pressure onto the national budget to close the gap and ensure universal access to family planning services.
To respond to the growing demand and funding shortfall, ZNFPC is lobbying for two key policy interventions: the inclusion of family planning services in all medical aid cover and access to significant resources from the anticipated National Health Insurance (NHI) Fund.
"Including family planning on all medical aid schemes will normalise and prioritise these services, while also easing the burden on public sector provision," he explained. "Tapping into the NHI Fund would provide a more sustainable pool of resources to guarantee that no woman or girl is left behind due to lack of access."
The engagement with Parliament is part of a broader advocacy strategy by ZNFPC to ensure that family planning is positioned as a critical component of national development and public health - with far-reaching benefits in reducing maternal mortality, preventing unintended pregnancies, and empowering communities.
Committee members who attended the meeting acknowledged the urgency of the matter, pledging to take the concerns forward during national budget planning sessions.
The ZNFPC has been a key player in Zimbabwe's reproductive health landscape, working alongside the Ministry of Health and Child Care to provide contraceptive commodities, education, and outreach services across all provinces.
As Zimbabwe moves toward achieving universal health coverage and its Vision 2030 development goals, stakeholders say sustained investment in family planning is essential - not just as a health priority, but as a cornerstone of socio-economic development and gender equality.
Source - The Herald
