HIV/AIDS |

National HIV Survey (ZIMPHIA 2020) Results Indicate Zimbabwe is On Track to Achieve HIV Epidemic Control by 2030

December 1, 2020 Michael Gwarisa

AS Zimbabwe joins the global community in commemorating World AIDS Day, results from the second Zimbabwe Population-based HIV Impact Assessment survey (ZIMPHIA 2020), released today demonstrate the nation’s continued progress towards achieving HIV epidemic control by 2030. ZIMPHIA 2020 found that 86.8 percent of adults living with HIV were aware of their status and of those aware of their status, 97.0 percent were on antiretroviral treatment. Among those on treatment, 90.3 percent achieved viral load suppression. According to the survey, the rate of annual new HIV infections among adults in…

ZNNP+ Launches Five Year Strategic Plan To Enhance Communities Response To HIV

December 1, 2020 Michael Gwarisa

THE Zimbabwe National Network for People Living with HIV (ZNNP+) has launched a strategic plan which is set to guide their work as well as intensify communities capacity to respond to HIV at community level. By Michael Gwarisa Officiating at the strategic plan launch event which also coincided with the annual Candlelight Memorial to honor those who lost their lives due to HIV, deputy minister in the Ministry of Health and Child Care (MoHCC), Dr John Mangwiro said the ZNNP+ strategy would help accelerate government’s plans to boost local production…

#Breaking: Vaginal Ring for Women’s HIV Prevention Receives WHO Prequalification

November 30, 2020November 30, 2020 Michael Gwarisa

SILVER SPRING, Md. (November 30, 2020)—The nonprofit International Partnership for Microbicides (IPM) is pleased to announce the World Health Organization’s (WHO) prequalification of the dapivirine ring, a monthly vaginal ring to reduce women’s HIV risk. This designation from the WHO confirms that the ring meets global standards for quality, safety and efficacy. The product’s addition to the WHO’s list of prequalified medicines will help guide national and global procurement decisions, pending country regulatory approvals for its use. The ring’s prequalification follows a positive scientific opinion for the product in July…

Zimbabwe To Commemorate World AIDS Day

November 30, 2020 Michael Gwarisa

ZIMBABWE joins the rest of the world in commemorating the World AIDS Day on Tuesday, 1 December 2020. This is a day to unite in the fight to end the HIV epidemic, support people living with HIV, and remember those who have lost their lives. HealthTimes Reporter The theme for 2020 is Global Solidarity: Shared Responsibility: Ending AIDS By 2030. The theme comes at a time when Zimbabwe, and the world at large are working towards ensuring that by 2030, AIDS will no longer be a public health threat. This…

Communities Essential To Pandemic Responses

November 27, 2020 Healthtimes

A community-led response will not only get our HIV response back on track but also help Africa defeat COVID-19. When COVID-19 first hit Africa’s shores, there were real concerns that an additional 500 000[1] people could die from AIDS-related causes, including Tuberculosis, in sub-Saharan Africa in 2020–2021. Innovative measures from the continent, community responses and adherence to World Health Organization guidelines to maintain essential services amid the pandemic, among others, have mitigated this impact. But HIV services have been disrupted. And there are indications that COVID-related restrictions are having a…

Zimbabwe Launches 2020 World AIDS Day Campaign

November 26, 2020November 26, 2020 Michael Gwarisa

AS the 2020 World AIDS Day (WAD) commemorations draw near, Zimbabwe has launched the WAD 2020 Campaign theme, theme song and logo. By Michael Gwarisa The WAD 2020 will be running under the theme “Global Solidarity, Shared Responsibility, Ending AIDS By 2030. According to the National AIDS Council (NAC), the 2020 WAD Celebrations will be held on December 1, 2020 in Harare at the Harare International Conference Centre (HICC), under strict observance of COVID-19 regulations in line with the World Health Organisation (WHO) set standards. Speaking during a virtual Press…

“We Need To Get Serious About Eliminating Mother To Child Transmission of HIV”- Dr Mushavi

November 19, 2020November 19, 2020 Healthtimes

NATIONAL Prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) and Pediatric HIV Care and Treatment Coordinator in the Ministry of Health and Child Care (MoHCC), Dr Angela Mushavi says transmission of HIV from mother to child was preventable hence the need for increased efforts in order to reduce the number of children with HIV. By Patson Gumbo recently in Macheke Speaking at a media sensitisation workshop that was hosted by the National Aids Council (NAC) in Mucheke, Dr Mushavi said even though the country had brilliant Elimination of Mother to Child Transmission of…

Briefcase HIV Organizations Causing Havoc In HIV Coordination Says NAC

November 11, 2020 Michael Gwarisa

THE National Aids Council (NAC) has vowed to restore sanity in the HIV response sector by capacitating the Zimbabwe Nationwide Network of People Living with HIV (ZNNP+) which was mandated at the initial stages of the HIV pandemic in Zimbabwe to coordinate community participation and involvement in the HIV response. By Michael Gwarisa Speaking to HealthTimes in an interview, NAC Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Dr Bernard Madzima said currently there was chaos in the HIV response at the back of mushrooming organisations purporting to be representing the PLHIV community. ZNNP+…

UNAIDS Donates Hygiene Kits To People Living With HIV

November 11, 2020November 11, 2020 Healthtimes

THE United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS)together with Reckitt Benckiser Group plc (RB) have donated 10 000 hygiene kits to people living with HIV(PLWHIV) to protect and safeguard people living with HIV from the Corona virus. The donation has been made through the Zimbabwe National Network of PLWHIV (ZNNP+). By Patricia Mashiri This donation comes after the realisation that basic hygiene kits form part of the essential commodities necessary in the prevention and fight against COVID-19 and other ailments especially now that the country has relaxed lockdown regulations. Identified 10,000…

United States Launches Two Projects Worth US$78 Million to Provide Critical HIV Healthcare Services

November 3, 2020 Michael Gwarisa

DEMONSTRATING its commitment to the people of Zimbabwe, the United States President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), launched two projects worth a combined US$78 million to provide critical HIV healthcare services for over half a million Zimbabweans. HealthTimes Reporter “The United States is proud to stand with the people of Zimbabwe to address HIV,” stated USAID/Zimbabwe Mission Director, Mr. Art Brown. Together with our partners, USAID is ensuring that people living with HIV can start treatment early, adhere to treatment, reach…