Tag: NAC

95% Of Deaf Persons In Zim Don’t Understand Shona, Face Communication Challenges During COVID-19

Michael Gwarisa

COMPREHENDING and interpreting COVID-19 information has not been a walk in the park for  deaf persons amidst indications that 98% of of the deaf community do not understand the vernacular Shona language. By Michael Gwarisa Sign Language Interpreters Association of Zimbabwe (SLIAZ) Chairperson, Professor Lincoln Hlatsyawo told editors and station managers in Chinhoyi recently that the deaf community had been lagging behind in terms of access to COVID-19 and HIV information. Inaccessible Information Education and Communication (IEC) material has been an issue and in respect of COVID-19 and HIV and…

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COVID-19 Chokes AIDS Levy Collections

Michael Gwarisa

THE prevailing COVID-19 pandemic has negatively affected AIDS Levy collections at the back of job losses and diminishing incomes during the period from March 2020 to date, making it difficult to fund HIV and AIDS interventions locally. By Michael Gwarisa The AIDS Levy is derived from  3% of income tax paid by individuals and cooperates and in Zimbabwe, HIV interventions are currently funded 70% by donors (multilateral or bilateral) and 11% by public resources and the reminder by Private players. —According to ZNASP (2015-2020), the HIV funding Gap for 2020…

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Zim Married Couples Urged To Use Condoms

Michael Gwarisa

THE National AIDS Council (NAC) Monitoring and Evaluation Director, Mr Amon Mpfofu says the risk of HIV infection is equally high among married couples as evidenced by latest nationwide HIV estimates. By Michael Gwarisa recently In Chinhoyi Speaking to Editors and Station Mangers during a sensitization meeting that was organized by NAC in Chinhoyi, Mr Mpofu attributed the high number of new HIV infections in Matebelenad South to spousal separation as  married couples are either separated by work or migration into neighboring countries. In 2020, the highest HIV prevalence was…

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Relying On Donors For ARVs A Health Time-bomb Says NAC Boss

Healthtimes

THE National AIDS Council of Zimbabwe (NAC) Chief Executive Officer, Dr Bernad Madzima says the prevailing scenario whereby the country relies heavily on donors for Antiretroviral medicines was unstainable. By Patricia Mashiri Zimbabwe is one of the countries with the biggest population in need of the antiretroviral (ART) medicines. It has a population of about 1.4 million people in need of ART. Speaking at a National Dialogue on the Local Manufacture of Medicines in Zimbabwe, Dr Bernard Madzima said the country’s AIDS Levy is used to procure ART medications but…

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Zimbabwe’s 2020 Global AIDS Monitoring Report Shows Progress In Bending AIDS Trajectory

Michael Gwarisa

ZIMBABWE has released its 2020 Global AIDS Monitoring (GAM) report which shows that the country is itching closer to epidemic control despite a myriad of challenges threatening to reverse the gains achieved so far, chief among them being the COVID-19 pandemic. By Michael Gwarisa Addressing a Press Conference where he presented on GAM and progress made so far, National AIDS Council (NAC) Chief Executive Officer, Dr Benard Madzima said the country achieved tits 90-9090 targets and the results from the GAM estimates also tallies with the ZIMPHIA results that were…

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Condom Use Declines Among Zim Sex Workers As Country Misses 2020 Condom Distribution Target

Michael Gwarisa

A total 83 million male condoms and 2.9 million female condoms were distributed in the year 2020, which is a far cry from the 100 million for men and 5.5 million that had been targeted for women during the year. By Michael Gwarisa The target misses were largely attributed to service disruption due to Covid-19. The 2020 figures were the lowest compared to the previous three years. The decline in condom distribution also affected uptake and use of condoms by Female Sex Workers and other HIV high risk groups. Presenting…

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Zimbabwe Records Significant Decline In AIDS Deaths

Michael Gwarisa

ZIMBABWE’S AIDS mortality has  significantly declined from a high of 488 people in 2010 to 137 people per 100,000 people living with HIV in 2020, indicating a 71.9% decline in AIDS deaths over the past decade, the National AIDS Council (NAC) has revealed. By Michael Gwarisa The development also follows revelations that the number of people living with HIV across the country was stabilizing as a result of increased number of people who are on Antiretroviral Treatment (ART). Making an HIV estimates presentation during a virtual 2021 Global Aids Monitoring…

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Ending AIDS By 2030 In Zimbabwe: Churches Better Positioned To Promote Male Engagement In HIV Response

Michael Gwarisa
Members from various churches gather at the women and girls symposium

CHURCHES and religious institutions play a pivotal role in reducing the number of new HIV infections in men as well as promoting better health seeking behavior amongst in men, top HIV/AIDS experts have said. By Michael Gwarisa According to the 2020 Zimbabwe Population-based HIV Impact Assessment (ZIMPHIA) Key findings,  HIV prevalence was 15.3% among women and 10.2% among men (ZimPHIA 2020), however more men were still not aware of their HIV status and they were lagging behind in terms of viral load suppression. Speaking during a Virtual workshop for ZCC…

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Long Distance Exposes Bikita School Girls To Sugar Daddies And Unintended Pregnancies

Michael Gwarisa

HAZEL Tarungamiswa (17), a form 3 student at Rupare High School in Bikita walks 18 Kilometers to and from her village every day to attend school. By Michael Gwarisa in Bikita Every morning, she has to clean the plates and sweep the yard amongst other household chores before leaving for school. This has however resulted in her arriving late at school some days. To avoid getting late at school and getting caned for doings so, most girls end up catching free rides from strangers, in the process exposing themselves to…

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“Let’s Not Address Health Issues In Silos During Lockdown”

Michael Gwarisa

THE National AIDS Council (NAC) Chief Executive Officer, Dr Benard Madzima says the new level four lockdown presents an opportunity for Zimbabwe to correct the mistakes of the first lockdown which saw a sizable number of people struggling to access essential healthcare services. By Michael Gwarisa In an interview with HealthTimes, Dr Madzima said even though HIV  is still a burden on the country’s health sector, it was critical to prioritise other issues such as Gender Based Violence (GBV), maternal health, access to contraceptives, Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR),…

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