Category: HIV/AIDS

Zimbabwe Launches Informal Sector HIV/AIDS Strategy

Michael Gwarisa

AS Zimbabwe inches closer towards controlling the AIDS epidemic, the National AIDS Council (NAC) in partnership with the International Labour Organisation (ILO), have launched the Zimbabwe Informal Economy HIV and AIDS Strategy (2022-2025). By Michael Gwarisa The strategy seeks amongst other things to empower and provide comprehensive HIV services to all levels of workers and other persons in the informal sector with the aim of creating an environment that will lead to a reduction in new HIV infections in working environments. Standing in for Minister Sithembiso Nyoni, Mr Tabani Shoko…

Read More

After Falling Off The Radar, Orphaned HIV Positive Boy Develops High Viral Load

Michael Gwarisa

A few minutes after bringing her son into this world, Simba Ncube’s* mother lost her life to AIDS related complications in 2010. Luckily before she died, Simba’s mother had registered her cousin sister, Ms Pride Ncube* as the next of kin and guardian to her child. On the fateful day, the hospital called Ms Ncube informing her that her sister had died and had indicated that she wanted her to raise her child. By Michael Gwarisa in Mutare However, a family feud ensued shortly afterwards with Simba’s maternal grandparents demanding…

Read More

Towards an AIDS Free Generation, Nyazura Celebrates PMTCT Milestone

Michael Gwarisa

“GETTING initiated on Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) as well as registering for the Prevention of Mother to Child Transmission of HIV (PMTCT) program early has been the best decision I have ever made,” said Tracey Makoni* (27) from Nyazura, in Manicaland province during an interview with HealthTimes on a media tour that was organised by the Family AIDS Caring Trust (FACT).  Tracey has five children and even though they were born after she had already tested positive for HIV, none amongst them has HIV, thanks to the PMTCT program being offered…

Read More

Zim Records High HIV Deaths In Male Adolescents

Michael Gwarisa

ZIMBABWE continues to lose high numbers of adolescent boys aged 10 to 19 to the AIDS epidemic despite the country having made tremendous strides in controlling the AIDS epidemic. By Michael Gwarisa According to latest HIV estimates, AIDS related deaths in adolescent boys have been on an upward trend since 2016 unlike in female adolescents where AIDS induced deaths have been declining. Presenting on the country’s HIV estimates, National AIDS Council (NAC) National Monitoring and Evaluation Coordinator, Mr Isaac Taramusi said adolescent girls constitute the biggest chunk of new HIV…

Read More

Positive living: Understanding HIV viral load

Healthtimes

By Tariro Mhute and Dr Pardon Maringe Behind the famous National Flats in Mbare, you will find Fungai* in his makeshift barber shop with a plastic and wood roof and walls made from cardboard boxes. The streets are busy, a common feature in the oldest high density residential area in Zimbabwe. A dreadlocked gentleman hangs from a commuter omnibus dressed in low-slung blue jeans and worn-out sneakers shouting, “town here?”  colloquial language commonly used by touts which means “are you going to town?”. Fungai greets his third customer of the…

Read More

UNAIDS welcomes parliament’s decision to repeal the law that criminalizes HIV transmission in Zimbabwe

Healthtimes

UNAIDS congratulates Zimbabwe’s parliament for repealing section 79 of the Criminal Law Code, which criminalizes HIV transmission. A new marriage bill adopted by parliament that repeals the criminal code section is to be signed into law by the president. The criminalization of HIV transmission is ineffective, discriminatory and undermines efforts to reduce new HIV infections. Such laws actively discourage people from getting tested for HIV and from being referred to the appropriate treatment and prevention services. Public health goals are not served by denying people their individual rights and I…

Read More

Hunger Forcing TB Patients To Abandon Medications In Rural Communities

Michael Gwarisa

THE growing food insecurity situation could derail the national Tuberculosis (TB) response amidst indications that some TB patients from rural and peri-urban areas are already defaulting on their medications citing some adverse drug reactions after taking the tablets and medications on an empty stomach for a prolonged period. By Michael Gwarisa Zimbabwe is currently faced with a food insecurity situation and according to the Famine Early Warning Systems Network (FEWS NET), between 40 percent and 60 percent of the country’s population could be food insecure by September, 2022.This according to…

Read More

Annah Sango To Speak At The 2022 AIDS Conference

Michael Gwarisa

GLOBAL Network of People Living with HIV (GNP+) Advocacy Officer, Annah  Sango has been listed amongst the featured speakers to headline the 2022 International AIDS Conference , the world’s largest conference on HIV and AIDS. By Michael Gwarisa The 2022 AIDS Conference will be held in Montreal Canada and will draw various key speakers from various parts of the world. Speaking to HealthTimes on the development, Anna said the AIDS conference will provide her with a platform to speak on various interventions Zimbabwe is working on to improve access to…

Read More

5000 Young Women Aged 15–24 Become infected With HIV Every Week

Healthtimes

YOUNG women and girls still constitute the largest proportion of new HIV infections with indications that every week, around 5000 young women aged 15–24 years become infected with HIV, according to the UNAIDS Global AIDS Statistics Fact Sheet. By Staff Reporter According to the report, in sub-Saharan Africa, six in seven new HIV infections among adolescents aged 15–19 years are among girls. Young women aged 15–24 years are twice as likely to be living with HIV than men. Around 4200 adolescent girls and young women aged 15–24 years became infected…

Read More

We cannot let war in Ukraine derail HIV, TB and Covid-19 treatment in eastern Europe

Healthtimes

It is no surprise that the World Health Organization (WHO) is calling for oxygen and critical medical supplies to safely reach those who need them in Ukraine and moving to establish safe transit for shipments through Poland. But nor is the call new. We`ve been here before. By Michel Kazatchkine — This article appeared first on The Telegraph Russian annexation of Crimea and the conflict in the Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts of Eastern Ukraine in 2014 threatened the supply of HIV and tuberculosis medicines. Fragile trans-internal border efforts and financing by the…

Read More