HIV |

Zim Receives 3rd Line ARVs For Children and Adolescents

August 29, 2019August 29, 2019 Michael Gwarisa

JANSSEN Pharmaceutical Companies a subsidiary of Johnson & Johnson has donated a sizable quantity of Third-line Antiretroviral (ARV) drugs to Zimbabwe as part of its efforts to address the huge ARV drug resistance burden prevalent in children and young people. By Michael Gwarisa Through a program dubbed the New Horizons Collaborative, an integrated approach to improving pediatric HIV care, a total of 5000 children from the SADC region are set to benefit. Through the program, Janseen provides Darunavir and Etravirine, including child friendly formulations, free of charge to eligible countries…

UN Worried Over Increased New HIV Infections In Girls

August 28, 2019August 28, 2019 Michael Gwarisa

OUTGOING United Nations (UN) resident coordinator, Mr Bishow Parajuli has expressed concern over increased cases of new HIV infections in girls and youths in Zimbabwe at a time when the country was witnessing a reduction in infections amongst other groups. By Michael Gwarisa According to the UNAIDS: HIV and Women report released early this year, Zimbabwe has 780 000 young girls infected with HIV. Briefing a Media Breakfast Meeting on Wednesday, Mr Parajuli said there was need for mobilisation of resources towards improving treatment and access to HIV prevention for…

PEPFAR To Invest $2 Billion For Women and Girls Empowerment

August 27, 2019 Michael Gwarisa

THE United States Government (USG) announced that it will invest nearly $2 billion this year to advance gender equality by supporting millions of women and girls through the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR). “Through PEPFAR, the U.S. government is deeply committed to gender equality,” said Ambassador Deborah L. Birx, M.D., U.S. Global AIDS Coordinator and Special Representative for Global Health Diplomacy. “We are putting resources and actions behind our words by investing nearly $2 billion this year to save and improve the lives of millions of women…

CSOs Raise Awareness On HIV & Disabilities At Agric Show

August 23, 2019August 23, 2019 Michael Gwarisa

A consortium of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) representing people living with disabilities is riding on the 109th edition of the Zimbabwe Agricultural Show (ZAS) to raise awareness on sexual reproductive health (SRH) issues affecting people with disabilities (PWDs) in Zimbabwe. By Michael Gwarisa The consortium which consists of Deaf Zimbabwe Trust (DZT), Mashambanzou Care Trust (MCT), Disability, HIV & AIDS Trust (DHAT) with support from the Zimbabwe Aids Network (ZAN) has this week been conducting stand to stand visits on various exhibitions stands educating exhibitors on SRH concerns faced by…

195 Zimbabweans On Third Line ART Drugs

August 22, 2019August 22, 2019 Healthtimes

THERE are about 195 patients on the third line Antiretroviral Treatment (ART) regimen in Zimbabwe which health experts say is not a good sign. By Kuda Pembere While presenting at the Zima Scientific Conference, Newlands Clinic’s Chimbetete said due to lack of genotype resistance testing in the country’s public health institutions, they could not get some of the results like Viral load and CD4 counts. This was from a study they did on the four centres with people on third line ART namely Newlands Clinic, Mpilo Hospital, Harare Central Hospital…

Pepfar partners Hpsl in HIV- AIDS campaign

August 10, 2019August 10, 2019 Michael Gwarisa

THE United States President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) and the Harare Professionals Soccer League (Hpsl) joined hands this week to launch the PEPFAR- Hpsl Test and Score Football Tournament. During the tournament, Pepfar partners will work with male professionals on HIV prevention, HIV testing and adherence to treatment. At PEPFAR, we are excited about this partnership and we will be monitoring progress as you play soccer and get to know more about smart decisions to protect yourself from acquiring HIV,” said Dr Ponesai Nyika, Public Health Specialist at…

Paediatric HIV A Neglected Disease

July 31, 2019 Michael Gwarisa

THERE are currently 1.8 million children living with HIV in Sub Saharan Africa, while 180 000 new HIV infections are recorded among children every year. 52% of these children were receiving antiretroviral therapy in 2017. By Michael Gwarisa In Zimbabwe however the number of children on ARVs has declined owing to a decline in mother to child transmission of HIV according to data released by the National Aids Council (NAC) and UNAIDS which indicates that the number of children on ART decreased from 89% in 2017 to 65% in 2018.…

PrEP Use High Among Young African Girls But Fades After Three Months- Study

July 29, 2019July 29, 2019 Healthtimes

IN a study of open-label Truvada as daily pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) to prevent HIV among 427 young African women and adolescent girls, 95% initiated the HIV prevention strategy, and most used PrEP for the first three months. However, PrEP use fell among participants in this critical population during a year of follow-up clinic visits, although HIV incidence at 12 months was low. The preliminary results suggest that tailored, evidence-based adherence support strategies may be needed to durably engage young African women in consistent PrEP use. The study, known as HPTN…

770K People Died of AIDS Globally in 2018

July 16, 2019 Michael Gwarisa

A total of 770 000 people died of AIDS in 2019 according to latest statistics released in the UNAIDS Global Aids Update today in Eshowe South Africa. By Michael Gwairsa Responding to the statistics, Médecins Sans Frontières/Doctors Without Borders said the annual number of deaths due to AIDS has declined only minimally since 2014 and such a catastrophe could be avoided through timely use of effective diagnostic tools and medicines to treat HIV/AIDS and prevent most deaths. While an additional 2 million people are reported on antiretroviral therapy (ART), more…

Zimbos Now Buying ARVs In Zambia

July 8, 2019July 8, 2019 Healthtimes

PEOPLE Living With HIV have resorted to buying Antiretroviral drugs from neighboring Zambia amidst fears of developing side effects from the expired stocks currently being dispensed in some health institutions. By Kudakwashe Pembere & Michael Gwarisa This is despite the assurance from the Medicines Control Authority of Zimbabwe (MCAZ) that the medicines have been tested and certified safe for consumption by people living with HIV. Speaking to HealthTimes on the sidelines of a march against ARV stock-outs, Gumisai Bonzo a women living with HIV said they have organised groups to…