TSITSI CHIYANGWA
Zimbabwe is closer than ever to the goal of ending the AIDS epidemic by the year 2030, according to the Deputy Minister of Health and Child Care Dr John Mangwiro,
Dr Mangwiro said unrelenting efforts to scale up access to treatment have seen immense progress in HIV prevention in the country. ‘
‘Of the 1.3m HIV positive people in Zimbabwe , 91% are now on Anti-retroviral therapy up from 88% in 2015. Through our robust decentralised National Anti- retroviral therapy programme which has been enhanced by high retention 90.3% of people on treatment are virally suppressed and are living longer with HIV and contributing to community and national development, ” Dr Mangwiro said at the World Aids Day commemorations held at the Chinhoyi University Technology Grounds in Mashonaland West Province.
The day is celebrated on December 1, each year. Speaking at the occasion, National Aids Council (NAC) chief executive officer Dr Bernard Madzima highlighted the need to have a comprehensive approach in dealing with other illnesses in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic
“Rather than focusing on HIV alone, the NAC now spreads its resources to assist the ministry and the country in the procurement of anti-cancer drugs, anti-cancer diagnostic equipment and when Covid-19 started, we also assisted the ministry in the response to Covid-19,” he said.
In collaboration with its partners, NAC together with their partners, continues to call for strengthening of HIV prevention which include HIV testing and counselling, voluntary medical circumcision, prevention of mother to child transmission, zero discrimination and condom use.
