No need to panic: Zimbabwe's government assures continuity of HIV treatment

FADZAI NDANGANA

HARARE – In a reassuring message to the public, the Minister of Health and Child Care Dr Douglas Mombeshora emphasised that there is no cause for alarm regarding the availability of HIV medicine amid recent funding cuts by the U.S.

Dr Douglas Mombeshora

Addressing a media sensitization workshop in Chinhoyi recently, Mombeshora highlighted that the government has enough stocks of ARVs.

“There is no need to panic,” Minister Mombeshora stated firmly. “We have prioritized the provision of HIV medicine because we want to maintain the treatment of people living with HIV. We don’t want them to default because we fear the consequences.”

While acknowledging the impact of funding cuts on HIV, TB, and malaria programs, the Minister clarified a crucial point: “Donors were covering only 36% of these programs—not the previously mentioned 55%.” This revelation underscores the need to address a manageable gap rather than face a much larger shortfall.

Minister Mombeshora emphasized the government's commitment to maintaining antiretroviral (ARV) drug availability. “After reassessing and reprioritizing our 2024 health needs, we’ve made it a top priority to maintain ARV availability,” he said. 

“If people stop taking their HIV medication—as we saw from presentations here—the consequences will be dire, and lives will be lost. We cannot let that happen.”

Importantly, he highlighted that the government is taking action. “When I say we are procuring ARVs with US$12 million, I mean we—not donors. The donors have pulled out, and we’ve stepped in to cover that gap,” he stated.

The minister reassured citizens that the budget could expand to accommodate more patients requiring treatment, reflecting a shift toward self-sufficiency. 

“This is our own money. We are not depending on donors anymore,” he affirmed. “As the president has said, ‘Nyika inovakwa nevene vayo’—a country is built by its own people. Anyone who contributes a dollar or two, that’s a bonus. But we must ensure we have a self-sufficient budget to meet our needs.”

As of the latest reports, approximately 1.2 million people in Zimbabwe are on antiretroviral therapy (ARVs) for HIV.