Category: HIV/AIDS

Helping Out Of School Adolescent Girls Navigate HIV and AIDS Vices Through Economic Strengthening Programs in Mash West

Michael Gwarisa

By Michael Gwarisa Being the first born child to both parents living with hearing and speech disabilities, 20 year old Cecelia Mhande from Chikangwe Township in Karoi, has not had it easy. Her situation got worse when her father lost his job at a local dealership a few years ago, plunging her entire family into untold economic hardships. Even though she wrote and passed her Advanced Level (A Level) examinations in 2023, her prospects of going into University this year hang in limbo owing to the financial challenges back home.…

Read More

In Search For An Elusive HIV Vaccine: Zimbabwean Scientists Dig Deeper For Answers after Imbokodo Trials

Michael Gwarisa

By Michael Gwarisa Over the past few years, several interventions have been developed as the world intensifies the fight against HIV and AIDS. These include combined strategies such as behavioral, biomedical, and surgical methods to prevent HIV like Voluntary Medical Male Circumcision (VMMC). For other epidemics such as smallpox, polio, measles and COVID-19, vaccines saved the day as they proved to be efficient tools against the further spread of infections. However, for HIV, it has been a different story altogether. On May 18 every year, the world unites to commemorate World…

Read More

Making Waves with Adolescent Girls and Young Women In HIV and AIDS Programing

Healthtimes

By Young Female Leaders in the HIV HIV remains a significant public health threat. Without addressing the social determinants, the status quo persists. Adolescent Girls and Young Women (AGYW) in the Sub-Saharan region, including Zimbabwe, still face limited leadership opportunities in the HIV response. The 2023 World AIDS Day theme serves as a reminder that communities must lead for interventions to be sustainable. It’s time to shift the perspective on AGYW—from mere service users to capable service providers. According to the Global AIDS Strategy 2021-2026, community-led organizations, especially those led…

Read More

United For Prevention Coalition Sensitises Parliament on Need to Integrate Drug and Substance Abuse In the National HIV Prevention Response

Michael Gwarisa

By Michael Gwarisa In a bid to capacitate members of Parliament with information and share the latest data and trends regarding the scourge of drug and substance abuse in Zimbabwe, SAFAIDS recently held a one-day capacity-building workshop with members from the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Health. While traditional methods of administering drugs and substances such as smoking and ingestion remain prevalent, the latest trends such as drug injection and Bluetooth or Flashblood whereby a syringe full of intoxicated blood is passed from someone who has just injected heroin to someone…

Read More

Namibia reaches key milestone in eliminating mother-to-child transmission of HIV and hepatitis B

Healthtimes

Windhoek – Namibia has become the first country in Africa – and the first high-burden country in the world – to reach a significant milestone on the path towards eliminating vertical mother-to-child transmission of both HIV and viral hepatitis B. Eastern and Southern Africa is home to more than half the world’s HIV burden and Africa accounts for two thirds of new hepatitis B infections globally. Namibia is home to more than 200 000 people living with HIV and new infections disproportionately impact females. Progress is possible. Globally, 2.5 million…

Read More

Improved Combination HIV Prevention Coverage Reduces New Infections In girls and young women in Zimbabwe

Healthtimes

By Staff Reporter Zimbabwe is among nine high-prevalence locations in Sub-Saharan Africa to record a reduction in new HIV infections between 2010 and 2022 owing to increased coverage of combination prevention methods according to findings from a 2023 Global HIV Prevention report UNAIDS defines combination HIV prevention as rights-, evidence-, and community-based programs that promote a combination of biomedical, behavioural, and structural interventions designed to meet the HIV prevention needs of specific people and communities. Its goal is to reduce the number of new infections through activities with a greater…

Read More

Community Posts model makes significant strides in improving HIV outcomes

Michael Gwarisa

By Shamiso Yikoniko In the ongoing battle against HIV, an innovative model promises to bring renewed hope and transform the lives of men, children, and adolescents who are missing from critical HIV prevention, care, and treatment services. The groundbreaking initiative – Community Posts Model – has been gaining momentum and garnering attention for its remarkable success stories. One key aspect of the model is its comprehensive approach to locating and involving the hard-to-reach population. It utilizes a combination of community outreach, targeted awareness campaigns, and partnerships with local organizations to…

Read More

Zimbabwe Launches Stage 2 of CATALYST Study, Adding Injectable PrEP to HIV Prevention Options for Participants

Michael Gwarisa

By Michael Gwarisa Following the delivery of injectable Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) doses, Zimbabwe through the Maximizing Options to Advance Informed Choice for HIV Prevention (MOSAIC) consortium, has launched stage 2 of the CATALYST study, introducing the newly approved injectable PrEP. The study is funded by funded by PEPFER through USAID. The CATALYST study was initially launched in 2023 where two PrEP methods — tenofovir-based oral pills and the dapivirine ring (PrEP ring) — were offered. The CATALYST sites remain the same six sites where stage 1 was conducted. These include…

Read More

Ministry of Health Speaks On Injectable PrEP Roll-Out in Zimbabwe

Kuda Pembere

By Kuda Pembere Having received 2000 doses of Cabotegravir (CAB-LA), a long-acting injectable pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), Zimbabwe’s Ministry of Health and Child Care says they will roll it out next year. Speaking at a Health Communicators Forum (HCF) media science café, a MoHCC officer in the AIDS and TB department Dr Idah Moyo said the product is currently being assessed at demonstration sites in the country. So of note is that the Cabotegravir long-acting injection pre-exposure prophylaxis is being delivered under the demonstration site and is coming in according to…

Read More

#BREAKING: Zimbabwe Receives 2000 Doses Of Injectable PrEP

Michael Gwarisa

By Michael Gwarisa Zimbabwe has become the third African country to receive doses of injectable cabotegravir (CAB-LA) as pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) for HIV prevention after Malawi and Zambia in a move that is set to expand HIV prevention methods for Zimbabweans. The injectable cabotegravir for HIV PrEP will be administered by healthcare providers. Initially, a person receives an intramuscular (IM) injection of cabotegravir one time each month for the first two months. After that,a person will receive an IM injection of cabotegravir one time every two months. Speaking in an…

Read More