Category: HIV/AIDS

High Pregnancy Rates Among HIV-Positive Teens in Zimbabwe and Zambia Reveal Critical Care Gaps

Michael Gwarisa

By Staff Reporter  A landmark study in Zimbabwe and Zambia has uncovered alarming pregnancy rates among adolescents living with HIV since birth, exposing urgent gaps in healthcare and social support systems. The research, conducted with 842 adolescents aged 11-19, found that pregnancy incidence reached 6.8 per 100 person-years among those aged 15 and older – a rate significantly higher than regional averages. The findings paint a concerning picture of intersecting challenges. While 92% of babies born to these young mothers tested HIV-negative thanks to effective prevention programs, only 19% of…

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One Visit, One Test, Three Results: The Triple Elimination Test Steps Up Global MTCT Fight

Healthtimes
Photo of Dr. Angela Mushavi addressing delegates at the International AIDS Conference in Kigali.

By Shamiso Yikoniko in Kigali, Rwanda A groundbreaking diagnostic tool recently prequalified by the World Health Organization (WHO) is set to revolutionize efforts to eliminate mother-to-child transmission (MTCT) of three major infections: HIV, syphilis, and hepatitis B. Dubbed the “Triple Elimination Test,” the innovative tool adopts a ‘one visit, one test, three results’ approach, allowing healthcare providers to screen for all three infections using just one blood sample — with results available within 20 to 30 minutes. Previously, expectant mothers in many low-resource settings had to return to clinics multiple…

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Zimbabwe to Implement New WHO HIV Guidelines

Michael Gwarisa

By Shamiso Yikoniko in Kigali, Rwanda The World Health Organization (WHO) has released updated HIV prevention, treatment, and care guidelines during the 13th International AIDS Society (IAS) Conference on HIV Science in Kigali, Rwanda, offering renewed hope in the global fight against HIV. Zimbabwe, home to an estimated 1.3 million people living with HIV, is expected to benefit from these new tools to bolster its already robust response to the epidemic. The revised guidelines introduce key innovations designed to simplify care, expand prevention options, and improve patient outcomes. Among the…

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U.S. Senate Moves to Protect PEPFAR Funding Amid Trump-Era Cuts Threat

Michael Gwarisa

By Health Times Correspondent The International AIDS Society (IAS) has applauded a bipartisan effort in the U.S. Senate to safeguard the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) from a proposed $400 million funding cut that had originated from President Donald Trump’s rescission package. However, advocates caution that the battle is far from over. Both the Senate and House of Representatives must still vote on the final budget package, and last-minute changes could emerge before the statutory deadline. PEPFAR, launched in 2003 by President George W. Bush, is widely…

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Global Leaders Come Together at IAS 2025 in Kigali

Michael Gwarisa

By Health Times Reporter in Kigali, Rwanda The 13th International AIDS Society (IAS) 2025 conference opened today in Kigali with a powerful call to action: ‘Communities must lead the fight to end HIV’. Over 5,000 scientists, activists, and policymakers gathered to celebrate scientific progress while demanding urgent investment in grassroots solutions. Rosemary Mburu, a seasoned HIV advocate, set an inspiring tone with her speech. “Before the global partnerships and wonder drugs, it was communities, armed with love and courage, who faced the darkness of the epidemic,” she stated. Emphasizing the vital role of…

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Zimbabwe’s HIV Self-Testing Initiative Makes Up 15% of New Diagnoses

Healthtimes

By Shamiso Yikoniko in Kigali, Rwanda Zimbabwe’s proactive efforts to expand HIV self-testing (HIVST) have led to 15 percent of all new HIV diagnoses in the country this year (2024), according to recent government data shared at the 13th International AIDS Society (IAS) Conference in Kigali, Rwanda. The findings highlight the strategy’s success in reaching high-risk groups, especially men, who have historically been more difficult to diagnose through traditional health services. The strategy has resulted in male testing rates doubling with HIVST (39 percent) compared to facility-based testing (22 percent);…

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Zimbabwe Ranks Second Globally for HIV-Related Stigma, UNAIDS Report Finds

Michael Gwarisa

By Kuda Pembere Zimbabwe has the second highest proportion of people who experienced HIV-related stigma while seeking HIV or other health services in the past year, according to the latest UNAIDS report. Drawing from the People Living with HIV Stigma Index 2.0 (2020–2024), the UNAIDS Global AIDS Update 2025 shows that Iran tops the list with 36 percent of people living with HIV (PLHIV) reporting stigma. Zimbabwe follows with 30 percent. Sierra Leone ranks third, with 27 percent of PLHIV facing stigma, followed by Vietnam with 25 percent. In New…

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NAC Fears HIV Setbacks Despite Global Praise

Michael Gwarisa

By Michael Gwarisa  Zimbabwe has earned international praise for its HIV response, with the latest UNAIDS Global AIDS Update 2025 placing the country among a select group on track to meet the ambitious 2030 target of ending AIDS as a public health threat. However, health authorities at home have issued a stark warning: the next five years could undo years of progress if urgent action is not taken to counter recent funding setbacks. According to UNAIDS, Zimbabwe is one of only seven countries in Eastern and Southern Africa to have…

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Gilead’s Secrecy Over HIV Prevention Shot Sparks Global Outrage

Michael Gwarisa

By Staff Reporter  Gilead Sciences has come under fire after announcing a secretive deal to supply its long-acting injectable HIV prevention drug, lenacapavir (LEN-LA), to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria. The agreement—shrouded in indefinite price secrecy—has been widely condemned by civil society organisations, health advocates, and global health experts who warn it undermines transparency, accountability, and equitable access. The Global Fund, financed by public money, has invited nine African countries—South Africa, Eswatini, Lesotho, Mozambique, Kenya, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe, and Nigeria—to participate in the agreement. However, the…

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National AIDS Council Holds 2023 AGM, Sets Sights on 2030 HIV Targets

Michael Gwarisa

By Michael Gwarisa The National AIDS Council (NAC) on Thursday held its long-awaited Annual General Meeting (AGM) for 2023, following a year-long hiatus after the dissolution of the previous board. The AGM, which had been delayed throughout 2024, marked a significant turning point in NAC’s operations as the newly appointed board seeks to restore momentum in the country’s HIV response and scale up efforts toward ending AIDS as a public health threat by 2030. Now that the board is in place, NAC is not only catching up on pending statutory…

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