Zimbabwe Gets Three More Months Of ARV Drugs After Trump Cuts Off US$200 Million Funding

Zimbabwe has secured an extra three-month supply of antiretroviral (ARV) drugs, ensuring current stocks last until September. This comes after the US slashed US$200 million in funding for HIV/AIDS programmes, sparking fears of shortages.

According to the Sunday Mail, Health Minister Dr Douglas Mombeshora confirmed the new consignment, bought with domestic funds, will cover patients until the end of September.

“We have enough ARVs” – Health Minister reassures nation
Speaking in the Senate last Thursday, Dr Mombeshora dismissed concerns over ARV shortages.

“Let me start by saying that we buy a six-month’s supply. For the first six months up to June, we have enough supply of medicines and enough supply of tablets. Last week, after buying the second batch, we will cover another three months from the end of June to the end of September.”

The government tapped into the National AIDS Trust Fund, financed by a 3% tax on salaries, to buy the drugs.

“We are using money raised locally. We have the National AIDS Trust Fund, which receives contributions from every employed person… So, I instructed the responsible department not to buy anything else but to prioritise ARVs, TB and malaria medication.”

He urged HIV patients to keep taking their medication, saying:

“We will not have a shortage of medication. If there are people who are taking medication, may they continue taking that medication religiously, as prescribed by the doctors.”

“Zimbabwe must find local solutions” – Foreign Minister

Foreign Affairs Minister Prof Amon Murwira said Zimbabwe should not rely on foreign aid.

“Every country has the sovereign right to decide how it allocates aid, and Zimbabwe must respect those decisions. Just as Zimbabwe can choose to support another country and later withdraw that aid, so, too, can others. We cannot complain when they exercise that right.”

He stressed the need for domestic funding:

“That is why we must focus on our own budgeting and domestic resource mobilisation. As the Minister of Health has said, we do have ARVs available in the country.”

How Zimbabwe funds its HIV response
With US aid cuts, Zimbabwe now relies more on local funding sources like:

AIDS Levy – A 3% tax on salaries funding ARV drugs.
Mobile Health Levy – 5% tax on airtime and data.
Sugar Tax – Imposed on sugary drinks to fund health equipment.
Over 1.2 million Zimbabweans depend on ARVs. The US had given Zimbabwe over $1.7 billion since 2006 through PEPFAR, but funding dropped by 30% under Trump.

Despite the cuts, the government says no patient will go without treatment.