adminLisa Shirichena recently in Mutare
At least 3 000 people from two provinces have been voluntarily tested for HIV and Aids in the door-to-door testing programme that began in October, the Zimbabwe Population Based HIV Impact Assessment (ZIMPHIA) has said.
The people were drawn from Mashonaland Central and Matabeleland North provinces and the programme is yet to be launched in other provinces.
Speaking at a sensitisation workshop in Mutare on Thursday, Biomedical Research and Training Institute representative, Dr Shungu Munyati said the response they got from the two provinces was overwhelming.
“We didn’t expect that people would agree to get tested for HIV like they did, we are very honoured for that,” she said. “We managed to test 3 000 people and we intent to visit 1 620 households in Manicaland next month. I hope they will accept our programme and respond positively.” For the programme in Manicaland, Government wants apostolic sect bishops, whose congregants make a significant population in the province, to play an active role in informing their members about the households HIV testing survey.
Ministry of Health and Child Care coordinator for HIV/TB, Dr Mutsa Mhangara, said faith-based organisations were vital in the dissemination of information about the survey.
“We are grateful that you have come representing your churches, we shall launch the HIV Impact Assessment on December 8 and we want you to inform your fellow members that we shall come to their houses to survey on issues that have to do with HIV,” he said while referring to church bishops who participated at the workshop.
Online Reporter