Awareness to end knowledge gap on HIV services

Blessings Chidakwa Herald Reporter

Awareness campaigns to end information gaps on the package of services for prevention, care and treatment of HIV is underway with communities being equipped to understand what they should expect from service providers.

According to Health and Child Care Ministry, all health facilities in Zimbabwe are expected to provide a minimum package of services for prevention, care and treatment of HIV for children, adolescents and adults (including pregnant and breastfeeding women).

A non-for profit organisation, Springs of Life Zimbabwe has since launched the dissemination of key messages from the Operations and Service Delivery Manual 2023 (OSDM) courtesy of International AIDS Society (IAS).

Project manager Mr Laytone Marisa said they have realised information gaps between service providers and recipients of care hence the need to identify key messages and distribute to the communities for them to understand what they should expect from service providers.

“We express gratitude to IAS for ensuring that key populations have uninterrupted access to quality health services, affordably and in appropriate packages,” he said.

“The programme is being received with joy by the key populations whose health-seeking behaviour is relatively low due to lack of information,” he said.

Mr Marisa said communities were represented in selecting key messages appropriate to their social category.