Category: HIV/AIDS

CAB-LA Enjoys High Continuity Rates Among PrEP Users In Zimbabwe

Michael Gwarisa

By Michael Gwarisa The recently introduced long-acting cabotegravir (CAB-LA) for HIV prevention has seen more users returning to get the second dose post their first jab, with data showing that the injectable drug has recorded a continuity rate over 90% since roll out in April, 2024. Currently, the Injectable PrEP is being administered in PrEP study sites in Harare, Mature and Bulawayo and is targeting mainly groups at high risk of HIV, namely Female Sex Workers (FSW), Adolescent Girls and Young Women (AGYW) and Men who have Sex with other…

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#Breaking: Donors About To Pull The Plug On Condom Funding In Zimbabwe

Michael Gwarisa

By Michael Gwarisa One of the major funders for HIV and AIDS programs in Zimbabwe, the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), has notified the Zimbabwean government that it will terminate funding for condom programming within the next 30 months, HealthTimes has learnt. Popularly known as Madhimbare mainly because of their blue and white packaging, public sector condoms serve the biggest number of condom users in Zimbabwe especially those at high risk of HIV infection mainly Female Sex Workers (FSW), Artisanal Miners, Truck Drivers among other HIV key…

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The Daring Five: Zim Female Riders Break Glass Ceiling In Male-Dominated Specimen Transportation Industry

Michael Gwarisa

By Michael Gwarisa in Shamva She probably has the most beautiful smile in Shamva, but don’t let that fool you. Rosemary Sibanda is a goal-getter, confident, bold and aiming for greater heights in her career as a rider working under Zimbabwe’s Integrated Specimen Transportation System (IST). Being caregivers, women find it difficult to penetrate male-dominated fields, and in most cases, employers prefer males to females for certain roles. Despite the many years of female activism and women empowerment advocacy, the gender gap in the professional world has not been closed.…

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Concern over poor ART coverage in Zim children

Kuda Pembere

By Kuda Pembere While hovering above 50 percent in terms Antiretroviral Treatment (ART) coverage amongst children seemingly looks fancy compared to other African countries with coverage as low as 6 percent, Zimbabwe needs to improve to fulfil its promises for the Global Alliance to End AIDS in Children by 2030. Global Alliance to End AIDS in Children by 2030 was launched in Montreal Canada in 2022. To achieve the goal of ensuring that 95 percent of children aged between 0 and 19 know their status, get placed on ART to…

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SAfAIDS Unveils Social Contracting Framework for Effective HIV Response

Healthtimes

By Ntokozo Gudu in Mutare SAfAIDS and Zimbabwe Community Health Intervention Research ( ZCHIRe) convened a capacity strengthening dialogue for stakeholders to effectively disseminate and implement the Social Contracting guidelines under the banner of the United for Protection Coalition, in Mutare recently. The dialogue was targeting the National AIDS Council as the key institution for decision making on social contracting, bringing together Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) on how to effectively input into the existing guidelines. The conversation highlighted the need to increase domestic financial resources and expand  revenue streams to…

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After Dropping Out Of School Due to An Early Marriage, Mhondoro Adolescent Girl Traces Footsteps Back To Classroom

Michael Gwarisa

By Michael Gwarisa in Chegutu When COVID-19 hit in 2020, everything came to a standstill as governments worldwide clamped down on services to pave way for the effective management of the disease. Unfortunately, the education sector was also affected, and learning was suspended. This, however, increased the vulnerability of girls from poor backgrounds as many were driven into early marriages to escape from the effects of poverty and hunger that characterised the pandemic period. One such girl is Theresa Garikai (21), from Katawa Village, from Mhondoro Mubaira, Chegutu District, who…

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How Motorbikes Have Bridged Diagnostic and Specimen Collection Gap In Rural Zimbabwe

Michael Gwarisa

By Michael Gwarisa in Gokwe, Nembudziya It’s around 12 midday, and the sun is blazing hot despite it being winter in Zimbabwe. There is not much activity, left for the chatter of a few old men seated around a pot of opaque beer at a nearby homestead. From a distance, a buzzing sound like that of bees or hornets approaches from the southern side of Kuwirirana Clinic, a health facility in Gokwe Nembudiziya. As the whirring gets closer, a Biker on a motorcycle emerges from a thick cloud of dust…

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Zimbabwe’s Integrated Specimen Transportation Boosts Viral Load Coverage Across the Country

Michael Gwarisa

“We have managed to reach the 95% target because we are managing to collect the Viral Load samples and we are managing to get the results of the tests.” By Michael Gwarisa To fast-track progress towards ending AIDS by 2030, Zimbabwe has increased Viral Load (VL) testing coverage in almost all 63 districts, following the rollout of an Integrated Specimen Transportation (IST) system. The widespread rollout of the IST system commenced in 2021 and has since spread to all 2000 health facilities under the Ministry of Health and Child (MoHCC).…

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Integrated Specimen Transportation System Modernises Zimbabwe’s Disease Diagnostics and Monitoring Systems

Michael Gwarisa

By Michael Gwarisa in Bulawayo Zimbabwe has scaled-up disease diagnosis, treatment as well as improve success monitoring management of patients at the back of an Integrated Specimen Transportation (IST) system, the HealthTimes has learnt. Funded by the Global Fund, through the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the IST program is being implemented by the Ministry of Health and Child Care (MoHCC), through the Biomedical Research and Training Institute (BRTI). The IST program was rolled out in 2021, and is now in 63 districts and 2000 health facilities, where it aims…

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Restoring Smiles Among HIV-Positive Employees: Lake Harvest’s Workplace HIV and Wellness Program Pays Dividends

Michael Gwarisa

By Michael Gwarisa in Kariba As the 2030 target to end AIDS draws near, numerous interventions are being implemented across the globe in a bid to fast-track progress towards reaching the ambitious target. For companies operating in hard-hit regions such as Sub-Saharan Africa, HIV/AIDS has had major consequences on profitability and productivity of companies due to increased cases of absenteeism and AIDS-related deaths among the productive age groups. The UNAIDS acknowledges that HIV/AIDS is not just a public health issue but rather a workplace issue and a development challenge that…

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