2005 Press Releases

Ambassador Sullivan to launch a drip-kit system at Muvonde hospital

(25/2/2004)

On Wednesday, February 25, 2004 United States Ambassador Joseph Sullivan will commission a drip-kit irrigation system at Muvonde Mission Hospital in Driefontein.  The ceremony to launch this pilot project will take place at 1030 hours.

 

The drip-irrigation system will enhance vegetable production at the hospital.  This project is the result of collaboration between USAID, Catholic Relief Services, Development Alternatives (DAI) and the Zimbabwe Association of Church-related Hospitals (ZACH).

 

The program will be implemented at 20 other hospitals included under the ZACH, mainly in Masvingo, Midlands and the drier parts of Manicaland and Mashonaland.  The program will work in conjunction with supplementary feeding programs at the hospitals.

 

The drip-kit irrigation system has a life span of ten years, and comes with spare parts.  A local manufacturer will be able to provide further spare parts.  Development Alternatives, through the LEAD Program (Linkages for the Economic Advancement of the Disadvantaged), is training all the beneficiaries on technical aspects of the system and will also provide irrigation specialists for trouble shooting and technical back-stopping.

 

Since Zimbabwe’s independence in 1980, the United States Government has provided nearly US$900 million in assistance to Zimbabwe.  The U. S. Government has also contributed 467,000 metric tons of food assistance to Zimbabwe through the World Food Program (WFP).  This year alone, the U. S. is providing about US$14 million to support HIV/AIDS programs and projects in Zimbabwe.