The US has cut $522 million in aid to Zimbabwe, impacting its health sector significantly. Health leaders are calling for better management of domestic health revenue, urging the government to utilize existing taxes for public health. A national dialogue is proposed to address funding challenges and develop a sustainable roadmap for health services.
The US government’s decision to cut $522 million in aid to Zimbabwe highlights the urgent need for improved management of domestic health revenue. This reduction, stemming from a broader discontinuation of funding for 5,200 projects by the US Agency for International Development (USAID), impacts primarily the health sector. Marco Rubio, US Secretary of State, announced that this funding would no longer support crucial health initiatives in Zimbabwe, which now faces a significant financial gap.
Itai Rusike, director of the Community Working Group on Health, emphasized the necessity for the Zimbabwean government to efficiently utilize existing health funds and manage domestic health revenue better. Rusike specifically pointed to the government’s sugar tax, initiated by Finance Minister Mthuli Ncube, as a way to bolster funding for public health systems, especially in light of increasing cancer cases. He urged that these collected taxes should be earmarked for health.
Rusike further noted that the withdrawal of US aid is especially alarming given Zimbabwe’s current economic challenges and competing priorities. Without new strategies to replace this funding, health services may suffer significant setbacks, endangering past public health achievements such as the ‘95-95-95’ targets for HIV. Previous projects like malaria prevention, maternal health, and tuberculosis support would be severely affected, risking disruptions to critical services.
In response to these impending challenges, health stakeholders, including the private sector, are called to convene a national dialogue. Rusike proposes a national indaba to create the Zimbabwe Sustainability and Transition Roadmap, which would help address the funding gap. Additionally, it is noteworthy that the US has similarly suspended financial assistance for civil society organizations in Zimbabwe, complicating the overall situation for public health funding.
The recent $522 million aid cut from the US poses a significant threat to Zimbabwe’s health sector, underscoring the need for better management of local health revenues. Stakeholders are urged to respond swiftly to prevent a public health crisis by utilizing the sugar tax and other domestic resources. The proposed national indaba could be critical in formulating a plan to sustain and transition health funding in light of decreased foreign support.
Original Source: www.theindependent.co.zw
