Minister Kitt announces a special grant for UNICEF for emergency supply of essential medicines in Zimbabwe

The Minister of State for Overseas Development, Mr Michael Kitt T.D., today announced Irish Aid support for a special multi-donor fund to be operated and managed by UNICEF for the supply of essential medicines for district health centres in Zimbabwe.

The Irish Aid funding of €200,000 will be pooled with similar grants from a range of donors. UNICEF will use the money as part of their Child Survival Programme to purchase a range of essential drugs which will then be distributed through the Health Centres throughout Zimbabwe’s 60 Districts. In announcing this funding, Minister of State Kitt said:

“The disastrous economic situation in Zimbabwe has meant that stocks of vital and essential drugs are now practically non-existent. This is having a very serious impact on the health and indeed the very survival of children. The immediate beneficiaries of this funding will be the people living in rural areas and cities who are currently unable to obtain basic medicines though public health clinics”. 

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Press
20/3/08