As the province, records a steady 10,3%, in the past 3years
Brenna Matendere
National Aids Council (NAC) provincial manager for Mashonaland Central Edgar Muzulu has said though HIV prevalance has been high in Masonaland Central, the province has had a decrease in new infections and deaths due to interventions by the organisation.
He added that Mashonaland Central has maintained a 10,3% HIV prevalence, which shows stability in controlling the pandemic.
“We have maintained the prevalence for the past three years. It indicates no new infections and no new deaths. The antiretroviral treatment programme is working so we are celebrating as a province.
“Condom uptake has also increased and condom consumption reaches out to two million per year. We have also seen an increase in the uptake of the female condom.”
Muzulu attributed this increase to robust condom campaigns that the province has been doing over the years.
The province is has recorded high numbers of HIV prevalance, but, making significant progress in HIV and Aids management through an integrated HIV programme to tackle the pandemic by 2030.
“Bindura tops in HIV prevalence, followed by Shamva and Mazowe. During the past two years Mazowe has been at the top, but due to interventions we have seen a slight decrease in new infection,” Muzulu said.
He, however, said issues of gender-based violence, child marriages, multiple concurrent partners and low risk perception were the barriers to HIV control.
“As a province our gender-based violence prevalence is among the highest in the country and the scourge is most pronounced in Mazowe, Rushinga, Mbire and Shamva. We also jave harmful traditional and religious practice that perpetuate gender-based violence,” he said.
“In response we have interventions that are primarily preventive. We have the primary combination prevention approach, which include prevention of mother to child transmissions, behaviour change communication as well as condom campaigns.”
He said other community based models including (SASA) Start, Awareness, Support and Action, an evidence-based community mobilisation approach to prevent violence against women as well as Sista2Sista and DREAMS (Determined, Resilient, Empowered, AIDS-free, Mentored and Safe), which are aimed at reducing the rate of HIV among adolescent girls and young girls.
“Every approach in the HIV response should be people centered. Let communities lead,” Muzulu said.
“Now the epidemic is no longer generalised. It is in some pockets so we are using a targeted approach to combating HIV and Aids.”
Chief Bushu, born Gracious Mukanwa, said as traditional leaders they have embraced HIV intervention programmes, especially in Shamva where they have come up with by-laws.
“The by-laws are there to compliment government efforts in eradicating child marriages and gender-based violence, which are also drivers of HIV,” he said.
“We have since spread this idea to other districts across Mashonaland Central province. This has seen the launch of a national programme, Not-in-My-Village, which seeks to tackle teenage pregnancies.”
Zimbabwe has achieved the 95-95-95 HIV treatment target – years ahead of 2030 goal.
The 95-95-95 target denotes that 95% of people on treatment have their viral load undetectable, while 95% of all HIV positive people know their status and 95% of those who know their status are on treatment.
