adminCatherine Murombedzi H I V Issues
The International Conference on Sexually transmitted infections in Africa (ICASA) closed on a high note with Suluman Chimbetu belting out all time hits keeping the delegates and youths on their feet. He also played some all
time greats from his late father’s Dendera kit which never lose appeal.
The Condomise Campaign awakened the need to use protection in all age groups but the zone was a hive of activity for the youths in the Community Village and the main conference.
Condoms of all sizes and flavour were given free of charge and people could take as much as they wanted.
T’ shirts blazoned “Do not compromise, condomise” were given out and the conference was a condom world during ICASA.
Minister of Health and Child Care Dr David Parirenyatwa said the country will work on adopting the new World Health Organisation Guidelines. These recommend that one gets treated on testing HIV positive as it has been proved that early initiation saves lives and is also a measure from one passing on the HIV virus.
Zimbabwe has 1,5 million people living with HIV and of these 820 000 are already on treatment. This means a big number in need of treatment are not getting it.
WHO’s guidelines call for anti-retroviral treatment as soon as a person is diagnosed with HIV, as well as offering Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) to people at significant risk.
The failure to make an appearance by football great Samuel Eto’o did not put a damper to the Community Village which was expected to be opened by him.
The much hyped Berlin patient, the only person to have been cured from AIDS who did not also come but events went ahead as scheduled.
Timothy Ray Brown had had HIV for 12 years and coupled with cancer treatment later in his life he was found that HIV had gone into remission.
UNFPA working in conjunction with the Ministry of Health and Child Care brought the Condomise Campaign.
The technical adviser in the condomise Campaign Ms Bidia Deperthes said they strive to give a variety hence the coming up with different types of condoms.
Some of the condoms glow in the dark and they have different flavours too.
“People need a variety in everything so we came up with different types of condoms in different shapes, scents, colours and designs. We did this to encourage people to use condoms,” Ms Deperthes said.
Sub Saharan Africa carries 70 percent of the HIV/AIDS burden and with 25 million people living with HIV found in Africa.
Last year Africa accounted for 70 percent of AIDS related deaths worldwide. The continent is home to 15 percent of the global population.
We can’t afford to slacken in arresting new HIV infections in Africa if we are to end AIDS by 2030.
Online Reporter