THE Community Antiretroviral Treatment (ART) Treatment Facilitator (CATCF) model, a new ART collection and delivery program, has greatly enhanced HIV treatment adherence through offering door to door delivery of medications to ART clients in Makoni District. By Michael Gwarisa in Makoni District Across Zimbabwe, the CATCF model is currently being implemented only in seven health facilities in Makoni District. These are St Therese Hospital, Matsika Clinic, Masvosva Clinic, Chiduku Clinic, Chinyadza Clinic and Tatseka Clinic. Briefing Journalists during a media tour at St Therese Hospital in Makoni District in Manicaland…
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Zimbabwe Trains Botswana On Developing HIV Prevention Cascades
A Zimbabwean delegation comprising of National AIDS Council (NAC) and Ministry of Health and Child Care (MoHCC) staff, recently travelled to Botswana to train and assist their counterparts to develop HIV Prevention Cascades. By Michael Gwarisa The training follows bilateral discussions between the two countries facilitated by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) country office in Botswana who had noted the progress that Zimbabwe had made in developing HIV prevention cascades to inform planning, implementation and tracking of the HIV response in the country. In an interview with HealthTimes, National…
Read MoreZimbabwe Launches Informal Sector HIV/AIDS Strategy
AS Zimbabwe inches closer towards controlling the AIDS epidemic, the National AIDS Council (NAC) in partnership with the International Labour Organisation (ILO), have launched the Zimbabwe Informal Economy HIV and AIDS Strategy (2022-2025). By Michael Gwarisa The strategy seeks amongst other things to empower and provide comprehensive HIV services to all levels of workers and other persons in the informal sector with the aim of creating an environment that will lead to a reduction in new HIV infections in working environments. Standing in for Minister Sithembiso Nyoni, Mr Tabani Shoko…
Read MoreNAC In Drive To Scale Up HIV Treatment And Testing Coverage In Males
THE National AIDS Council in Zimbabwe (NAC), has devised a number of strategies to bring men and boys on board, with the aim of increasing HIV treatment and testing coverage in males. By Michael Gwarisa The development comes in the midst of indications that globally, men continue to lag behind across the HIV testing and treatment continuum. According to the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS) special analysis of 2021, globally, the testing and treatment targets for 2020 were almost reached among adult women (15 years and…
Read MoreZAN and Partners Move To Address Structural Barriers Facing Key Populations In Accessing Health Services
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 MoreKey Population Groups Remain Target For Stigma and Violence
KEY population (KPs) remain a target of violence and stigma and discrimination in communities they live and work in despite numerous awareness campaigns that have been held to raise awareness against discrimination of the groups. By Patricia Mashiri The discrimination and stigma has extended in such a way that the communities struggle to access public health services which a basic right for every Zimbabwean citizen regardless of identity, profession color or creed. Speaking during a 2 day Journalist HIV/AIDS workshop by the National AIDS Council (NAC), the NAC Community, Key…
Read MoreNAC Donates 100 Bicycles to Brotha 2 Brotha Initiative
THE National AIDS Council (NAC), has donated a total 100 bicycles to the Brotha 2 Brotha mentors in Harare Province to strengthen community linkages and health systems with the aim of enhancing access to sexual reproductive health (SRH) for boys. By Patricia Mashiri Speaking during the handover ceremony, Honorable Oliver Chidawu, the Harare Minister of State for Provincial Affairs said the programme will expand the current HIV and AIDS response in the province and enhance preparedness to address health emergencies in communities. Young people are lagging behind as compared to…
Read MoreNAC Partners Zimbabwe Ladies Golf Union
THE National AIDS Council (NAC) has for the third time partnered the Zimbabwe Ladies Golf Union (ZLGU) in an effort to sensitize women about the need to seek and utilize services for HIV testing, cervical and other cancers screening as well as COVID-19 screening. By Patricia Mashiri In partnership, NAC has sponsored an amount to the tune of USD15,000.00 to the Ladies Golf Tournament which will take place from 27 to 29 August 2021. The tournament will have international teams from South Africa, Botswana,Nambia and Zambia. Speaking during a press…
Read MoreBridging The ART Access Gap During A Pandemic, CATS Hold The Fort In Zimbabwe
WHEN the COVID-19 was reported in Zimbabwe in 2020, government announced a national lockdown with the view of curbing the spread of the virus and limiting community transmissions. In the process other essential health services were also locked down, leaving People Living with HIV (PLHIV) especially young people living with HIV and on Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) at a disadvantage. By Michael Gwarisa recently in Mashonaland East With tight restrictions, fears of young people on ART falling by the wayside were rife as in most cases, young people would shun visiting…
Read MoreTobacco Selling Season Triggers GBV In Guruve Married Couples
GURUVE district in Mashonaland Central province has over the past few weeks witnessed a surge in cases of Gender Based Violence (GBV) amongst married couples. By Michael Gwarisa In Guruve Speaking in an interview with HealthTimes on the sidelines of a National AIDS Council (NAC) Editors and Station Managers tour of the province, Guruve District AIDS Action Committee chairperson, Mr Starves Nyangwaru said the GBV was emanating from disputes related to misappropriation of tobacco sales funds mainly by the husbands. In terms of GBV here in Guruve especially looking at…
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