Health Ministry to get 24 million Euros from EU

The Ministry of Health and Child Welfare will receive at least 24 million Euros from the European Union for the improvement of the country's health delivery system. The money, which comes in batches, will be used to acquire essential drugs, vaccines, support the National Blood Transfusion Service (NBTS) in purchasing reagents, co-ordination of HIV and Aids activities and supporting of non-governmental organisations involved in health activities. In a statement, the head of the European Union delegation to Zimbabwe Mrs Francesa Mosca said 15 million Euros would be used to acquire essential drugs and 3,2 million Euros for the purchase of vaccines. She said the NBTS would receive 1,1 million Euros while three non-governmental organisations, namely Mildmay, COSV and CESVI will share 1 million Euros.

Mildmay is involved in the caring of children infected by HIV, while COSV is implementing a programme on the prevention of mother to child transmission of HIV in Mashonaland West. CESVI is establishing a malaria prevention and treatment programme in Mashonaland Central. The EU has also set aside 1,9 million Euros towards the repair and replacement of hospital equipment. Mrs Masco said 750.000 Euros would be used for the enhanced planning of HIV and Aids activities. "EU is going to support a national Aids conference that is scheduled to be held in June this year," she said. Last year, the Ministry of Health and Child Welfare received 13 million Euros from the EU of which, 10 million was used to acquire drugs. The NBTS received 2million euros then. (The Herald, Harare)