IP/06/229
Gaborone / Brussels, 24 February 2006
European Commission allocates €15.8 million to a new Vital Health Programme in Zimbabwe The European Commission and the Government of Zimbabwe signed today an agreement for a new EU funded health program. The programme will support of the vulnerable groups in Zimbabwe for a total amount of €15.8 million. The 3-year initiative, entitled “Vital Health Services Support Programme” (VHSSP), will be implemented in both rural and urban areas.
The ceremony was attended by the EU Commissioner for Development and Humanitarian Aid, Louis Michel, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Zimbabwe Dr Simbarashe Mumbengegwi and the Minister of Finance Dr Herbert Murerwa, and took place in Gaborone, Botswana, in the margins of the seminar launching the programming of the 10th European Development Fund for SADC countries.
The programme will provide essential drugs (including ARVs), vaccines, medical supplies, training for human resources and measures aimed to fix staff in remote rural public and mission health facilities.
Commissioner Michel said: “This programme is essential to improve the health services for all Zimbabweans, but particularly the most vulnerable people. The EU is already a key donor in supporting the health sector in the rural areas. However, it remains the Government’s responsibility to ensure that the health services available to the Zimbabwean population are sustained and improved.”
The programme, funded by the European Development Fund, is in line with the current EU policy towards Zimbabwe which since 2002 suspended all assistance except for programmes in direct support of the population, in particular in the social sector. As far as the 10th EDF is concerned, funds will be made available only after a decision to resume full cooperation has been taken.
All activities are in line with the National Policy of Zimbabwe and will directly contribute to the fulfilment of three out of the eight Millennium Development Goals, namely: combat HIV & AIDS and other diseases, child mortality, and maternal health.
The EU is currently the biggest donor to Zimbabwe’s public health sector, providing at least 60% of the available essential drugs. It has also assisted in ensuring safe blood availability by providing support to the National Blood Transfusion Services.
The new programme builds on the foundations of the current 2000–2006 EU Health programme. It also aims to work in close coordination with other support provided by EU Member States, international donors and NGOs.
Zimbabwe currently faces a critical health situation. In the past five years life expectancy has dropped, maternal mortality has dramatically increased and although HIV prevalence has recently declined, HIV still infects about 20% of the adult population. More than 50% of the positions for doctors and 90% for pharmacists are unfilled.
The Government of Zimbabwe has committed itself to inject funds from the National Budget into the decentralised Health Services Fund, on a quarterly basis. Furthermore, the re-capitalisation of NatPharm will continue, mainly through increased government allocation of foreign currency for essential drugs and supplies. The budget allocations to the health sector as a share of the total national budget will have to be maintained or increased to sustain the health services in Zimbabwe.
