Tag: HIV

Health CSOs Consortium Sets New Priorities for COP22 PEPFAR funding cycle

Healthtimes

IN the Country Operational Plan for the year 2022 (COP22), Zimbabwe’s health civil society organisations under the Advocacy Core Team (ACT) banner are embedding new health advocacy points which now qualify for funding by the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR). By Staff Reporter Health civil societies came up with health priorities they felt left out in the previous funding cycles by PEPFAR, some of which after relaxation of range of priorities, now qualify. Speaking to this publication on the sidelines of the COP22 CSO priorities setting meeting last…

Read More

150 000 New HIV infections Recorded Among Children In 2020

Michael Gwarisa

THE Joint United Nations Programme on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS) says most of the 150 000 new HIV infections recorded among children in 2020 could have been prevented if interventions targeting the most affected groups had been implemented. HealthTimes Reporter According to the UNAIDS weekly update, a strong start would be to better engage women and girls at significant risk of acquiring HIV infection in integrated antenatal care and HIV services, including HIV prevention and testing, delivered at the local level, and to ensure that those who are HIV-positive receive…

Read More

ZAN and Partners Move To Address Structural Barriers Facing Key Populations In Accessing Health Services

Healthtimes

A consortium running under the banner ZIZIWAZI, which comprise of the Zimbabwe AIDS Network (ZAN), the National AIDS Council (NAC), Health Foundation Zimbabwe, Zimbabwe Rainbow Community and others,  has embarked on a five year engagement program with the aim of addressing challenges faced by populations at higher risk of HIV in accessing health services. By Patricia Mashiri Key populations or groups at high risk of HIV in Zimbabwe include Men who have Sex with Men (MSM) and other members making up the Lesbians, Gays, Bisexual, Transgender, Intersex and Queer (LGBTIQ)…

Read More

ZNFPC, City Of Harare Use Sport To Fight GBV and HIV In Young People

Healthtimes

IN an effort to eradicate new HIV infections, teenage pregnancies and gender-based violence (GBV) in communities, the Harare City Council in partnership with the Zimbabwe National Family Planning Council (ZNFPC) have introduced youths games to keep young people engaged. By Patricia Mashiri The games include soccer, netball and traditional games such as nhodo, tsoro and other . Speaking during the games which took place in Mbare over the weekend, Mrs Calista Kaseke, Harare City Council Community Services Officer based in Mabvuku said the games are aimed at reducing idleness in…

Read More

Stop TB Partnership Zimbabwe Launches National Social Media Campaign

Michael Gwarisa

THE Stop TB Partnership Zimbabwe, a country level initiative meant to scale up Tuberculosis (TB) case finding and treatment in various communities which include high TB burden settings, has launched a national social media campaign that will see TB champions, media and other key stakeholders raising awareness around the TB subject using various digital media platforms and media products. By Michael Gwarisa in Kadoma The campaign will result in the production of video TB Information, Education and Communication (IEC) material for distribution through celebrity platforms as well as other social…

Read More

Male circumcisions disrupted by COVID-19, fall short of the 2020 target

Healthtimes

In areas with high HIV prevalence and low rates of male circumcision, voluntary medical male circumcision (VMMC) can greatly contribute to HIV prevention. Despite this, there was a steep drop in the number of VMMCs performed in the 15 priority countries in 2020, due mainly to service disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic: approximately 2.8 million procedures were performed in 2020, compared with 4.1 million in 2019. Several countries suspended their programmes when the pandemic took hold, including South Africa. Despite this, programmes in some countries proved resilient enough to recover…

Read More

Fulfilling Our Promise to adolescents and young people

Healthtimes

My years of work in HIV prevention have taught me a few things. Among them, one of the important things I have learnt is that if people do not know how to protect themselves or how to access treatment, they will not be able to prevent HIV or lead happy and fulfilling lives with HIV. Therefore, information and education is key. But its not the only thing needed. I might have the information that unsafe sex may expose me to HIV or other STIs, but I may still go ahead…

Read More

A 2nd person has been ‘naturally’ cured of HIV without medical intervention, scientists say

Healthtimes

Scientists have identified the second person to rid themselves of HIV without medical treatment, according to an article published Monday in the Annals of Internal Medicine. The patient, an unnamed woman living in Argentina, was found to have human immunodeficiency virus in 2013. Since 2017, an international team of researchers has been poring over the patient’s DNA in search of traces of the virus. The team even checked her placenta after she gave birth in March 2020, STAT reported. After sequencing billions of cells, the scientists have confirmed the woman…

Read More

Zimbabwe On The Verge Of Decriminalizing HIV Transmission

Michael Gwarisa

FOLLOWING massive lobbying and advocacy from Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), parliament, the media and some quasi government institutions, Zimbabwe is at the cusp of decriminalizing wilful or deliberate transmission of HIV. By Michael Gwarisa This was revealed during the launch of a Media Tool Kit on HIV criminalization by the Health Law & Policy Consortium in Harare. The decriminalization of HIV in Zimbabwe is tied to the Marriages Bill, Section 53 (2) which if enacted, will result in the repeal of Section 79 of the Criminal Law Code which criminalizes…

Read More

ZNFPC, Partners Launches HIV Prevention Program For Young Girls and Women

Michael Gwarisa

IN a move that is meant to reduce new HIV infections in young people in Southern Africa, the Zimbabwe National Family Planning Council (ZNFPC) and its partners Botswana Family Welfare Association (BOFWA) and Namibia Planned Parenthood Association (NAPPA) have introduced a project that will integrate HIV prevention methods with Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) for Adolescent Girls and Young Women (AGYW) and their partners. By Patricia Mashiri The USD$100 872.00 SADC member countries resource mobilization initiative, is a two year funded project which is aimed at building capacity for…

Read More