Staff Reporter

Health provision is set to improve in the country following the launch of a US$90 million worth of Health Resilience Fund (HRF) which is aimed at supporting vulnerable mothers, newborns and adolescents in the country.

Last Monday, Vice President and Minister of Health and Child Care, Dr Constantino Chiwenga launched the HRF that will be coordinated under the Health and Child Care Ministry with the funding partners being the European Union, the governments of Ireland, the United Kingdom, and Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance while UNICEF, UNFPA and WHO would be the technical partners of the Fund.

A medical expert, Dr Emma Machingura said that HRF will assist in improving health services across the country.

“The Fund will improve the health services in the country as it would be channeled to purchase medicines, medical equipment and other materials needed in the provision of health services. Citizens will soon start reaping the benefits of this Fund. However, the major beneficiaries would be the elderly, children, adolescents and vulnerable mothers,” said Dr Machingura.

Dr Machingura added that the HRF would help ensure access to maternal, child and sexual and reproductive health and nutrition services, as well as strengthen the health system’s resilience to shocks.

Meanwhile, UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator, Edward Kallon said that HRF was designed to improve equitable access to quality health care in Zimbabwe with special emphasis on women, new borns, children and adolescents, among others.