BEAM receives ZWL300m boost from NAC

Zim Now Writer

The Basic Education Assistance Module has received over $300 million from the National Aids Council for the payment of school fees and covering expenses for the vulnerable children so that they continue attending school thereby reducing the risk of contracting HIV.

The donation was handed over by NAC chief executive officer Bernard Madzima to Deputy Minister of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare Lovemore Matuke on Friday at the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair.

“I am honoured to hand over our contribution towards BEAM for 2023. This financial assistance is coming from the Nac Trust fund generally known as Aids Levy.

“As a country, we have achieved the 2025 95-95-95 targets and we are so proud of that milestone.

“Despite this achievement, we are looking at around 500 000 affected children who are orphaned or now vulnerable due to HIV and AIDS hence this donation will ensure they have access to shelter, education and food,” said Madzima.

He added that the donation is part of our comprehensive approach to HIV prevention, also remarking that NAC has been contributing towards BEAM for the past decade.

He said that NAC is taking care of at least 10 per cent of the BEAM’s annual budget.

NAC’s work towards the reduction of HIV, Madzima said, and addressing educational needs of the vulnerable helps in reducing new infections.

“This will help us achieve our target of ending Aids as a public health concern by 2030.

“95-95-95 means that 95 percent of infected individuals know their status, 95 percent of those infected are on medication and 95 percent of those on medication achieve viral suppression,” Madzima said.

BEAM is a government-run programme aimed at providing financial assistance to vulnerable children who are in need of support to access education.

The programme supports orphaned and vulnerable children aged between six and 19 and about 1.8 million children are being assisted under the programme.