Global Fund grants Zimbabwe $60 million to fight AIDS

Harare- Zimbabwe (PANA) -- Zimbabwe is due to receive US$60 million from the Global Fund to finance anti-AIDS programmes in the country, Health Minister David Parirenyatwa disclosed here Sunday.
He said the bulk of the money from the Global Fund to fight against AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria would be used to buy anti- retroviral drugs, and also to finance AIDS prevention programmes.
"I can confirm that the country is expecting a US$60 million grant from the Global Fund under the sixth round of disbursement.
The funds are meant for the programmes to prevent malaria, tuberculosis and AIDS but a huge chunk will be used in our ARV (anti-retroviral) programmes," he said.
An average of at least 5,000 people die of AIDS every week in Zimbabwe, but infection rates have slowed down in recent years because of extensive awareness campaigns mounted by the government and NGOs.
Over 26,000 people in the country are on government- supported AIDS treatment, and the authorities yearn to cater for more patients.