By Michael Gwarisa
Zimbabwe’s prospects of conducting its third Population-based HIV Impact Assessment (ZIMPHIA), a crucial household-based national HIV survey, are hanging in the balance amid indications of potential funding cuts from the United States to global scientific research initiatives.
Zimbabwe has already hosted two ZIMPHIA surveys—the first in 2015/2016 and the second in 2020. Both were largely funded by the United States government through the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), channeled via the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
The 2020 survey cost approximately US$20 million and spanned eight months. It was led by the Ministry of Health and Child Care (MoHCC) in collaboration with the Zimbabwe National Statistics Agency (ZIMSTAT), the National AIDS Council (NAC), and ICAP at Columbia University.
However, early in 2025, the United States proposed budget cuts to federal agencies that support scientific research—an action that could derail Zimbabwe’s plans to carry out its next PHIA survey.
We were supposed to repeat another PHIA this year or early next year, unfortunately with support from the Americans, and I am not sure that this is one of the areas that will continue to receive support,” said Dr. Owen Mugurungi, Director of the AIDS and TB Unit in the Ministry of Health during an Editors workshop in Cinhoyi recently.
The survey has been pivotal in tracking the trajectory of the HIV epidemic in Zimbabwe and in shaping targeted interventions. However, the likelihood of the Zimbabwean government independently funding such a costly initiative is slim, given the existing financial strain in meeting antiretroviral treatment demands and other critical HIV services.
“The challenge is that the PHIA is a very expensive exercise which takes millions of dollars to conduct. Looking at our situation, in which we are trying to run budgets for many things—for HIV prevention, care, and treatment—then they will be there, but [PHIA] will not be among the most needed things that we are looking at right now.”
Dr. Mugurungi added that they were holding out hope for the end of a 90-day pause in research-related activities, which concludes on April 19, 2025. He expressed optimism that PHIA could be granted a reprieve, given its importance.
“The areas of research and surveillance have not been included as yet, and we are hoping that within the last 30 days of this pause, or by the 19th of April, we can get something that is more favourable towards our PHIAs,” added Dr. Mugurungi.
The ZIMPHIA survey is not the only HIV research initiative facing an uncertain future in light of the U.S. government’s funding freeze. In 2023, the University of Zimbabwe secured a US$45 million USAID grant to implement the HIV Vaccine Innovation, Science, and Technology Acceleration in Africa (HIV-VISTA) program.
