Tag: AIDS LEVY

Rising HIV treatment failure in Zimbabwe: A stitch in time could save nine

Healthtimes

“Veld fires start from glowing ash: The numbers dismissed today as small,  can offset the gains made in the national HIV response in the near future.” By Catherine Murombedzi (Internews Health Journalism Network, Mercury Phoenix Trust HIV/AIDS 2023 Fellowship) ZIMBABWE should set aside domestic financial resources to deal with the rising number of people living with HIV (PLHIV) resistant to the treatment of first resort, commonly known as the first line treatment. Donors do not fund second and third line treatment drugs, making this a key health priority for the…

Read More

To Deduct Or Not to Deduct AIDS Levy from VAT in Zimbabwe

Michael Gwarisa

Rabson Mandizha* (45) is a carpenter and an entrepreneur from Kuwadzana, Home Industries in Harare. In 2012, he tested positive for HIV and was initiated on Antiretroviral Therapy (ART). Every month, he gets his ART supply consistently from Kuwadzana Polyclinic and for this, he says is grateful to the government of Zimbabwe and partners for giving him a chance to live a healthy life. By Michael Gwarisa He has four Children with his wife who is also HIV positive and thanks to the national Prevention of Mother Transmission of HIV…

Read More

AIDS Levy, International Financing Behind Zim’s AIDS Response Success- UNAIDS

Michael Gwarisa

THE Joint United Nations Programme on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS) says Zimbabwe remains a leader in as far as HIV treatment on African continent at the back of a myriad of factors chief among them being a  well-coordinated domestic funding mechanism for HIV/AIDS and support from international partners. By Michael Gwarisa In update on how Inequalities are at the heart of uneven progress in the AIDS response, UNAIDS said progress against HIV has been uneven with other countries struggling to contain the pandemic. The gains made through people-centred approaches within…

Read More

COVID-19 Chokes AIDS Levy Collections

Michael Gwarisa

THE prevailing COVID-19 pandemic has negatively affected AIDS Levy collections at the back of job losses and diminishing incomes during the period from March 2020 to date, making it difficult to fund HIV and AIDS interventions locally. By Michael Gwarisa The AIDS Levy is derived from  3% of income tax paid by individuals and cooperates and in Zimbabwe, HIV interventions are currently funded 70% by donors (multilateral or bilateral) and 11% by public resources and the reminder by Private players. —According to ZNASP (2015-2020), the HIV funding Gap for 2020…

Read More

Relying On Donors For ARVs A Health Time-bomb Says NAC Boss

Healthtimes

THE National AIDS Council of Zimbabwe (NAC) Chief Executive Officer, Dr Bernad Madzima says the prevailing scenario whereby the country relies heavily on donors for Antiretroviral medicines was unstainable. By Patricia Mashiri Zimbabwe is one of the countries with the biggest population in need of the antiretroviral (ART) medicines. It has a population of about 1.4 million people in need of ART. Speaking at a National Dialogue on the Local Manufacture of Medicines in Zimbabwe, Dr Bernard Madzima said the country’s AIDS Levy is used to procure ART medications but…

Read More

Natpharm Gets 6 Months Cotrimoxazole Funding

Healthtimes

THE National Pharmaceutical Company of Zimbabwe (NTAPHARM) says it has secured funding to procure uninterrupted six months supply of  cotrimoxazole an antibiotic used for various bacterial infection and is used by people living with HIV who have a CD4 count of less than 250. By Catherine Murombedzi Speaking at a sensitization meeting for the Northern Region People Living with HIV, Meaningful Involvement People Living with HIV (MIPA) in Kadoma, Natpharm Acting Director, Mr Davison Vuragu said, “The Global Fund, (GF) has funded the six months purchase of cotrimoxazole. With funding…

Read More

Inflation Erodes AIDS Levy Collections…No ARVs Procured In 2019

Michael Gwarisa

RUNAWAY inflation coupled with skyrocketing prices for pharmaceutical products has eroded AIDS Levy collections over the past few months, making it difficult for the National Aids Council (NAC) to procure Antiretroviral Treatment (ART) drugs from foreign suppliers, HealthTimes has learnt. By Michael Gwarisa Even though treasury gave NAC the green light to access foreign currency from banks at the prevailing Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) set interbank rate, the organisation has been struggling to purchase lifesaving drugs from foreign sources since suppliers only accept the United States Dollar (USD). Briefing…

Read More

Parliament Pushes For Command Sanitary Pads Production

Healthtimes

LEGISLATORS have called for command sanitary pads production in a bid to avert the prevailing crisis which has been exacerbated by the recent prices increases of sanitary products due to foreign currency shortages. By Michael Gwarisa Contributing to a motion raised by Honorable Priscilla Misihairabwi Mushonga in the National Assembly, Pelandaba-Mpopoma legislator Joseph Tshuma said sanitary pads availability should match that of condoms and priority must be given to the girl child to menstruate with dignity. “As much as other people have said that if you visit the toilet you…

Read More

Find more home grown solutions for AIDS Levy: CWGH

Healthtimes

By HealthTimes Reporter The Community Working Group on Health (CWGH) feels there should be more indigenous solutions to grow the AIDS Levy in Zimbabwe. Zimbabwe’s mobile network operators  contribute  5% levy on all airtime purchases for mobile telecoms to the AIDS Levy. Joining the rest of the world in commemorating World AIDS Day, CWGH said despite the country making strides in reducing the prevalence rate, new infections continue to occur. “However, it is important to note that new infections have not yet stopped, nor have AIDS deaths. ART coverage is…

Read More

Aids Levy Collections Shrink

Healthtimes

By Michael Gwarisa HIGH informalisation of the economy and massive company closures alongside job cuts have had an adverse impact on Aids Levy collections, a National Aids Council (NAC) official has said. According to NAC’s Accounting officer Godfrey Mzari, collections to the AIDS Levy have been on a downward trend since the year 2014 and 2017 is likely to be even worse. “Currently, the AIDS levy is being collected from the formal sector, by formal sector we mean registered employees. Its collected by the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (ZIMRA) and disbursed…

Read More