SADC application rejected

Fraser Mpofu
Correspondent | Thursday November 20, 2008 00:00

Members of the Trans-Zambezi Malaria Initiative are Botswana, Zimbabwe, Malawi, Mozambique, Angola and Zambia.

The countries, through whose territory the Zambezi River cuts its course, had early this year, submitted a joint application to the Global Fund, for money to enable them to roll out a regional programme to combat malaria, which is prevalent along the mighty river.

They had applied for a package of US$72 million.But Dr Kaka Mudambo, the co-ordinator of the Trans-Zambezi Malaria Initiative, said the proposal was rejected and communication to that effect was received last week.

'Yes our proposal was rejected,' said Dr Mudambo.'There are some comments which the Fund made and we will address them when we re-apply next time.'

This was the first joint application fromthe Trans-Zambezi Malaria Initiative for funding from the Global Fund.

The Global Fund is one of the world's biggest providers of support for programmes meant to respond to HIV and AIDS, TB and malaria, the three major killer diseases in southern Africa.

Early this year, the Trans-Zambezi Malaria Initiative held an expedition from the source of the Zambezi River to the point in Mozambique where it empties into the Indian Ocean. In Botswana, the expedition went through the Okavango Delta, which is also susceptible to malaria.

The expedition, which brought together journalists, and health experts, navigated the Zambezi on boats and reached out to the most remote communities along the river.

These communities, which live far away from health facilities, are at the greatest risk of contracting and dying from malaria.

So the expedition was meant to raise awareness among these communities on the dangers of the disease and how they could prevent it and mitigate its impact.

Mudambo said the initiative would re-submit its application for the next round of proposals, Round Nine.

Submissions for this round will close on June 1, 2009.