Category: HIV/AIDS

UNAIDS calls for action against the criminalization of people who use drugs and for community-led harm reduction programmes

Michael Gwarisa

GENEVA, 1 November 2021—On International Drug Users’ Day, UNAIDS is calling for urgent action against the criminalization of people who use drugs, for the redress of criminalization’s negative effects on HIV, viral hepatitis and other health issues, for the respect of human rights and for more funding for community-led harm reduction programmes. “UNAIDS is committed to supporting countries in their journey towards the decriminalization of drug possession and to full-scale implementation of harm reduction programmes,” said UNAIDS Executive Director, Winnie Byanyima. “UNAIDS calls for the full involvement of communities of…

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Dreading To Go Home: The Plight Of Transgender People In Zimbabwe

Michael Gwarisa

IN a few weeks’ time, the festive season will be upon us and for many families, it’s a time to meet and catch up on almost everything that would have happened throughout the course of the year. For some college and university students, holidays such as the festive season brings some sort of relief and therapy away from the hectic academic schedule. By Michael Gwarisa However, the same cannot be said for the Transgender and Intersex community in Zimbabwe who in most cases have to think twice and deeply before…

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New Zealand’s Lifts Travel Restrictions For People Living With HIV

Michael Gwarisa

UNAIDS welcomes the announcement by New Zealand that it has removed all travel restrictions for people living with HIV. The recent decision by Immigration New Zealand to remove HIV from the list of medical conditions deemed likely to impose significant costs or demands on New Zealand’s health services means that the blanket ban for people living with HIV to get a resident visa has officially been removed. Own Correspondent “I commend New Zealand for taking this important step and hope that it will encourage other countries to remove all travel…

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Massive Turnout For First Lady’s Cervical and Breast Cancer Screening Initiative In Hopely

Healthtimes

HUNDREDS of women and girls in Hopley, thronged the free Cervical Cancer and Breast Cancer screening drive that was being offered by Angel Of Hope Foundation, a charity organization under Zimbabwe’s First Lady and Health Ambassador, Amai Auxillia Mnangagwa. By Patricia Mashiri The Cancer Screening session was offered through Angel of Hope’s Mobile clinic facilities which included a bus among other mobile facilities. Speaking during the cancer screening session  in Hopely, Harare South, Amai Mnangagwa said  even though it was breast cancer month, women continued to lose lives to other…

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United States Approves $213.2 million to Support HIV Response in Zimbabwe

Michael Gwarisa

MORE than 1.2 million Zimbabweans living with HIV will continue receiving lifesaving treatment and health services enabling them to lead long and healthy lives, and thousands of health care workers will continue carrying out their critical work under the latest country plan approved by the United States. Congress approved $213.2 million for the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) 2021 country plan for Zimbabwe, reflecting strong coordination between the United States and key partners, including the Ministry of Health and Child Care, the Global Fund, UNAIDS, and civil…

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United States Government’s Interventions See Rujeko Polyclinic Surpassing HIV Targets

Michael Gwarisa

RUJEKO Polyclinic, a council primary health care facility in Dzivarasekwa, Harare has through interventions from the United States Government (USG) attained 68% Viral Load Coverage (VLC), 96% viral suppression levels as well as increase access to Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) to not less than 5039 people living with HIV around its catchment area. By Michael Gwarisa The Polyclinic’s catchment area has a total population of 88, 271 consisting of mostly low income and poor communities and HIV programs at Rujeko Polyclinic are being supported mainly by the U.S President’ Plan for…

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Mutating HIV Virus Making It Difficult To Develop Vaccine

Michael Gwarisa

THE ever-changing genetic makeup and rapid mutation of the HIV virus has to a larger extent slowed down progress towards successfully developing an effective HIV vaccine, a top Zimbabwean expert has said. By Michael Gwarisa The revelations also follow the recent abandonment of the Imbokodo HIV vaccine or HVTN 705/HPX2008 efficacy studies after revelations that the vaccine was not granting enough protection against infection. In an interview with HealthTimes, Dr Portia Hunidzarira, the Principal Researcher for the Imbokodo vaccine studies said the HIV virus mutates at a faster rate and…

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800 000 Children Living With HIV Not On ARVs Therapy

Healthtimes

New HIV infections among children declined by more than half (54%) from 2010 to 2020, due mainly to the increased provision of antiretroviral therapy to pregnant and breastfeeding women living with HIV. However, that momentum has slowed considerably, leaving particularly large gaps in western and central Africa, which is home to more than half of pregnant women living with HIV who are not on treatment. Gaps in the testing of infants and children exposed to HIV have left more than two fifths of children living with HIV undiagnosed. The number…

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There Is Still Hope For The HIV Vaccine

Michael Gwarisa

SCINTISTS who worked on the Imbokodo HIV vaccine trials say all hope is not lost in terms of finding a long lasting HIV prevention method in the form of vaccine. By Patricia Mashiri Speaking during a virtual Media Science Café on Imbokodo Trial Headlines, Dr Portia Hunidzarira the Principal Researcher they are still examining and looking at data from the HIV vaccine trials to see how best they can work around developing a vaccine that has a higher efficacy and protection profile. Vaccine success stories are like this. It took…

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UN Agencies, Partners Hold GBV, HIV Training For Interfaith Organisations

Michael Gwarisa

THE Joint United Nations Programme on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS) together with the UN Women, UNESCO and the National Aids Council (NAC) are hosting a tow day Virtual Capacity Training for Interfaith Network Members and Faith Based Organizations on Male Engagement for Training on Gender Based Violence and HIV. By Michael Gwarisa The training marks the third such event the organizations have jointly hosted in 2021 in a  move meant to equip leaders from various religious and interfaith groups with knowledge around GBV and HIV issues so as to reduce…

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