The United States of America, through the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (or PEPFAR), is using at least $150,000 USD to help with COVID-19 prevention measures in Zimbabwe specifically targeted at people living with HIV.
In a statement on Tuesday, the US Embassy in Zimbabwe said the PEPFAR funding includes the purchase of soap, buckets, hand washing stations and hand sanitizer for supported facilities, and the reproduction of COVID-19 communication materials.
The products will be share at supported facilities and through faith and community networks around the country.
The activities will be carried out by three PEPFAR clinical implementing partners, namely, the Organisation for Public Health Interventions and Development (OPHID), International Training and Education Center for Health (I-TECH) and the Zimbabwe Association of Church-Related Hospitals (ZACH).
The $150,000 USD funds are in addition to the United States Agency for International Development (USAID)’s $470,000 contribution to the World Health Organization to support Zimbabwe’s fight against COVID 19, announced on March 27, 2020.
Meanwhile, the United States has provided over $1 billion in health assistance to strengthen health systems in Zimbabwe since 1980.