Embassy Announces 2020 Funding to Health Development Fund (HDF) in Zimbabwe
News
22 July 2020
The Embassy of Ireland in Pretoria has announced a contribution of €3.27 million to the Health Development Fund (HDF) in Zimbabwe.
The HDF provides resources for maternal & children’s health and gender-based violence (GBV) programmes implemented by UNICEF and UNFPA. It is funded by a number of agencies including the European Union (EU), Ireland and Sweden. It is an example of #Team Europe working in Zimbabwe to deliver critical services, as the country grapples with a complex and growing humanitarian crisis.
The Ambassador-designate of Ireland to Zimbabwe, Fionnuala Gilsenan said:
“We are pleased to continue our support of the Health Development Fund in Zimbabwe. We believe that it is important, now more than ever, to focus on building resilient health systems and improving access to healthcare for women and children. We are pleased to work closely with the EU Delegation and the Embassy of Sweden as part of our #TeamEurope contribution to this important area of work”
The HDF is supporting the government-led Covid-19 national response plan in Zimbabwe. All partners recognise the risks to the provision of general health services for women and children and want to ensure a balance between Covid-19 response, and ongoing access to health care for the most vulnerable. This will be a core focus for the remainder of 2020 and will be monitored closely by all partners involved.
This programme is in its fifth and final year. The Embassy looks forward to planning with all partners, a successor programme to the Health Development Fund which will be responsive to the unfolding humanitarian crisis while maintaining a focus on strengthening the national health system and targeting resources to ensure better health outcomes for women and children.