The Sunday Mail
The Basic Assistance Education Module (Beam) is short of US$4 million, leaving scores of vulnerable children at risk of missing classes this year. Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare Minister Nicholas Goche revealed last week that Government has committed US$15 million while development partners have also committed $10 million to the programme.
The National Aids Council (Nac) has also contributed US$1 million.
“Although there have been significant contributions towards the Beam by both Government and donors, major funding gaps still exist.
“Given these funding gaps, only a limited number of children can be supported by Beam, leaving some at risk of totally missing school.”
Minister Goche said his ministry will continue to mobilise resources to ensure all deserving children benefit.
In 2013, he said, Beam assisted about 450 000 children countrywide, almost half the number of orphaned children in the country.
Minister Goche appealed to donors, including the private sector, to emulate Nac and other well-wishers in making meaningful contributions towards easing the plight of vulnerable children.
Health and Child Care Minister Dr David Parirenyatwa weighed in, saying Beam was evidence that the Aids levy was reaching the people.
“I am happy that in addition to allocating 55 percent of the inflows towards anti-retroviral therapy, Nac has still seen it worthwhile to allocate US$1 million towards the Beam.
“This underscores the priority which is attached to the issues of education, particularly for our infected and affected children.”
According to national statistics on HIV and Aids, Zimbabwe has about 900 000 orphans and other vulnerable children.
These children have a variety of needs ranging from shelter, food, education and health, among others. Their failure to access these needs has a possibility of exposing them to HIV and Aids.
