Category: HIV/AIDS

Zimbabwe Records Decline In New HIV Infections In Adolescent Girls and Young Women

Kuda Pembere

By Kudakwashe Pembere Zimbabwe is on schedule to reduce new HIV infections in adolescent girls and young women (AGYW) by 2025, at the back of increased coverage of combination prevention programs alongside other interventions, the Global HIV Prevention Coalition(GPC) said in a report. While the country is still amongst high HIV burden countries alongside Cameroon, Lesotho and Malawi, GPC noted that there has been a decline in the acquiring of HIV in AGYW. The report looks at the progress in HIV control in some African countries. HIV incidence among adolescent…

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To protect everyone’s health, protect everyone’s rights

Healthtimes

 By Jane KALWEO This Friday1 March 1is Zero Discrimination Day, established ten years ago by UNAIDS to protect the rights of everyone and build healthier societies. The evidence is clear: only by protecting everyone’s rights, can we protect everyone’s health. There is much to celebrate. Zimbabwe is one of the few countries in sub-Saharan Africa which has reached and surpassed the 95–95–95 targets. The country has reached 95 percent for the number of HIV-positive people knowing their status,98 percent of HIV-positive people on ART and has reached the target of…

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Dolutegravir ARV Drug Linked To Spike In Obesity and Hypertension In Zimbabwe’s People Living With HIV-New Study

Michael Gwarisa

By Michael Gwarisa Significant weight gain and a high incidence of Hypertension cases have been picked among Zimbabweans Living with HIV who switched to Dolutegravir (DTG), based, efavirenz (EFV)-based and ritonavir-boosted atazanavir (ATV/r)-based Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) in Zimbabwe. A longitudinal study conducted by Zimbabwe’s renowned Clinical Scientist and Laboratory expert, Tinei Shmu et al which sought to explore  “Body weight and blood pressure changes on dolutegravir-, efavirenz- or atazanavir-based antiretroviral therapy in Zimbabwe” gathered that the Zimbabwe’s HIV response now faces an increased burden of Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs). The study…

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CDC Appoints Dr Robyn Neblett Fanfair Permanent Director HIV Prevention Division

Michael Gwarisa

By Michael Gwarisa The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has announced the appointment of Captain Robyn Neblett Fanfair as director in the HIV Prevention division. Since August 2022, Dr. Fanfair has been at the helm of the Division as Acting Director, and will continue to provide her scientific leadership and expertise to manage, direct and coordinate the work of the Division to reduce new HIV infections, advance health equity, and improve the health of people with HIV. Announcing the appointment, Dr Jonathan H. Mermin, Director National Center for…

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Call to remove VAT and import duty in condom procurement

Kuda Pembere

By Kuda Pembere Organizations in condom programming and distribution have called for the removal of Value Added Tax (VAT) and import duty on private sector condoms noting it will them more affordable. In separate statements commemorating International Condom Day, Population Services for Health (PSH) and AIDS HealthCare Foundation (AHF) Zimbabwe said the removal will improve availability of condoms to the public. With condoms playing a major role in preventing HIV, Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) and unwanted pregnancies, there are public sector condoms which are availed for free mainly in public…

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U.S. Government Delivers First Shipment of Injectable PrEP to Zambia

Michael Gwarisa

LUSAKA – Today, February 9, the United States government delivered to Zambia the first shipment of injectable pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) medicine for HIV prevention, making Zambia the second country in the world (after the United States) to offer injectable PrEP outside of a study setting. Injectable PrEP is a safe and effective HIV prevention tool that provides clients with two months of HIV protection between injections. This donation of 14,850 vials of injectable PrEP – called Cabotegravir Long Acting (CAB-LA) – to Zambia’s Ministry of Health will protect 2,000 Zambians…

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FACT Zimbabwe Launches Strategic Plan 2024-2026

Michael Gwarisa

By Michael Gwarisa In a bid to safeguard sustainable livelihoods, promote health and well-being and capacity building for vulnerable children and communities, the Family AIDS Caring Trust (FACT) Zimbabwe has launched the 2024-2026 Strategic plan. The strategic plan will be guided by four key strategic pillars namely, the Safeguarding and Sustainable Livelihood Pillar, Health and Wellbeing Pillar, Organisational Efficiency and Effectiveness Pillar and the Strategic Information and Research Pillar. Officiating at the launch, Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Manicaland Province Honorable Misheck Mugadza said the FACT Strategy…

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A Glossary of Terms for a New World of HIV Care

Healthtimes

poz.com Scientific progress often means a slew of new vocabulary words. Novel treatments like long-acting injectables to treat HIV are no exception. Some of the terms below are highly technical; others will sound familiar but with a modern twist. Having a proactive conversation with your clinician about HIV treatment isn’t always easy. Brushing up on the terminology—old and new—can be empowering and help you better manage an important conversation about self-care. Antiretroviral therapy (also known as ART) is another, fancier name for your HIV medications. If you’re on HIV meds,…

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Zim among African countries to roll out Dapivirine Ring

Kuda Pembere

By Staff Reporter Having sold over 113 000 dapivirine rings under the ‘DapiRing’ brand as of September this year, Zimbabwe having approved it, is among the African countries set to roll the product out. The dapivirine vaginal ring, an alternative HIV prevention method for women will be rolled out to fill this yawning gap where adolescent girls and young women are among the groups most at risk in sub-Saharan Africa. The antiretroviral ring is now approved or authorized for use in 11 countries in East and Southern Africa, according to a November…

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Zimbabwe’s Goal to End AIDS Is So Close. Why Are Health Experts Worried?

Healthtimes

By Gamuchirai Masiyiwa, Global Press Journal Zimbabwe HARARE, ZIMBABWE — Precious rarely takes her medication in public. If she must, she keeps the pills in an unmarked case and discreetly opens it inside her handbag before taking the medication. Even at home in Mabvuku, a suburb east of Harare, Precious makes sure the pills remain in her secret place — the unmarked case. The 31-year-old has her reasons. In 2004, Precious, who asked to use her middle name for fear of stigma, was diagnosed with HIV. She was put on…

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