The National Aids Council (NAC) has warned that Zimbabwean men may soon need to include condoms in their budgets, as donors are starting to scale down support for HIV response measures, reported NewsDay.
Speaking at the recent Zimbabwe Diamond and Allied Minerals Workers Union’s Gwanda regional meeting, NAC representative Abraham Ncube cautioned that free condom distribution may not be sustainable soon.
Ncube explained that 3% is currently being deducted from workers’ salaries as an Aids Levy, with 50% of these funds going towards the procurement of antiretrovirals (ARVs). He added:
<blockquote>
This is not enough and it is being supplemented by donors who then come in such as Global Fund and other international donors who come with other funds to procure ARVs as well as some prevention commodities like condoms.
Maybe we need to be aware that donors are now scaling down in general in terms of supporting the HIV response.
Meaning to say where we thought we were entitled to free condoms, maybe it’s about time we should start thinking of having a condom budget as responsible people.
If you are a man and say at my home there are no condoms, well that is food for thought. We need to come out of that dependence syndrome and think in terms of us being independent.
</blockquote>
Ncube said part of the Aids Levy was used to acquire ARVs while the remainder was used for other response programmes such as prevention activities.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

Pindula News

Zimbabwe may stop giving free condoms because donors are reducing support. People may need to budget for condoms. The National Aids Council is warning about this. Right now, a small percentage of workers' salaries goes towards buying medicines. But this is not enough. The rest of the money comes from donors. Now, donors are giving less support. People need to be responsible and think about buying condoms. The money from the salaries is used for medicines and other programs. This news is important for everyone to know.

Free Condom Distribution In Zimbabwe Under Threat

Marry Chiwenga, the wife of Vice President Constantino Chiwenga has called on the government to do more to assist cancer victims. Speaking at church service, Marry said
<blockquote>
Cancer has become the biggest killer of people today. As a nation, we are not doing much about the people affected by cancer. We are just watching them die and it’s not fair. I would like to call on President Emmerson Mnangagwa to take a look on this, review the Aids Levy and possibly assist cancer victims with half of it.</blockquote>
More: <a href="https://www.newsday.co.zw/2018/05/government-urged-to-fund-cancer-fight/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">NewsDay</a>

Marry Chiwenga Calls For Govt To Do More To Fight Cancer

The Ministry of Health and Child Care has acknowledged that there is a shortage in anti-retroviral drugs in public health institutions. Communication intercepted by The Herald shows that the shortage is as a result of foreign currency shortages.
Part of the electronic communication reads:
<blockquote>The recommended pipeline months of stock levels are a result of the current country liquidity challenges which Natpharm is experiencing in using the National Aids Trust Fund with suppliers as they require hard currency to facilitate the process, hence the below minimum months of stock at national level.</blockquote>
National Aids Council (NAC) operations director Mr Raymond Yekeye told The Herald that they had budgeted $20 million to buy ARVs since the beginning of 2017, but they have not yet been allocated the foreign currency to proceed with the orders.
More: <a href="http://www.herald.co.zw/arv-shortage-hits-zim/">Herald</a>

ARV shortage hits Zimbabwe, lack of foreign currency cited

Health and Child Care Minister Dr. David Parirenyatwa has revealed that the government is considering introducing a cancer levy. This follows the realisation by the government that the majority of Zimbabweans cannot afford treatement for cancer. According to Mpilo Central Hospital head of nuclear medicine Dr Xolani Ndlovu one course of cancer treatment costs at least $6 000 a year. This is without doctor’s consultation fees and the special diet that patients need.
Said Parirenyatwa:
<blockquote>We are having an active discussion on the cancer levy since we have an Aids levy. We tried to treat HIV-related cancers under the Aids levy. However, because the cancer drugs are so expensive, they need to be looked at separately. In fact the most expensive drug in all medicine is for cancer treatment,</blockquote>
More: <a href="http://www.chronicle.co.zw/plans-to-introduce-cancer-levy-underway/">Chronicle</a>

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