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Robin Muchetu/Nqobile Bhebhe, Zimpapers Reporters
BULAWAYO province, despite recording a low HIV prevalence rate of 10,7 percent, still surpasses the national average of 10,4 percent and is recording Aids deaths owing to defaulting clients.
Health experts have condemned the trend, saying no one should be dying from advanced HIV disease (Aids) in 2025 when there is wide access to antiretrovirals (ARVs) available in Zimbabwe for free.
HIV prevalence refers to the number of people who are infected by HIV in a particular place and time. Speaking during a private sector HIV engagement in Bulawayo, Provincial Medical Director, Dr Maphios Siamuchembu, said the low prevalence rate for the province is still a cause of concern.
“We were informed that the HIV prevalence for Bulawayo between 2022 and now has dropped from around 13 percent to about 10 percent. That is good progress,” he said.
“As a province, we are in epidemic control of HIV, but the provincial prevalence and incidence rate is higher than the national prevalence and incidence rate. That means that we have a bigger problem in our small area of Bulawayo metropolitan province than the national problem of HIV.”
Dr Siamuchembu lamented new infections, saying a lot more work needs to be done to ensure numbers decline significantly.
“In 2024, we had 3 814 new HIV infections that we recorded. In the first quarter of 2025 we recorded 839 new infections; in the second quarter of 2025, we recorded 881 new infections. We are still compiling statistics for the third quarter, which ended last month. We are now in the fourth quarter,” he said.
“While we have progressed these statistics point to trouble; it shows that we have a lot of work to do. In the progress that we have made in the province, the private sector contributions have been quite significant.”
The PMD said Zimbabwe Private Sector HIV and Wellness Association (Zipshawa), a private sector initiative that is co-ordination the fight against HIV, must strengthen collaborative efforts between them and the public sector.
“We need to have a coordinated private sector response to not only HIV but to wellness so that we can start documenting the coordinated response to HIV as a country,” he said.
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While gains in adult treatment are being recorded, the province and nation at large are having challenges with efforts to manage the virus in children.
UNAIDS set the 95-95-95 targets, stating that 95 percent of the population must know their status, 95 percent of these people must be initiated on ARVs, and 95 percent of the same population must be virally suppressed.
“As a province, we have achieved the UNAIDS 95-95-95 targets but only for adults. We still have a big problem; we have not achieved the same 95-95-95 when it comes to children,” said Dr Siamuchembu.
“What it means is that our children in the province who are affected by HIV, we do not know all of them. We don’t know 95 percent of them; we know about 80 percent who are infected with HIV. So, we have a missing chunk; the private sector needs to come on board so that we find these children.
“But of those that are on ART, only 86 percent are virally suppressed, so we have a huge problem. The future of this province is not yet taken care of. Zipshawa is needed to work together with all of us to help each other in this fight.”
The PMD said those who stop HIV treatment are also posing a challenge for the health sector.
“We have a problem of defaulters, as a result, we still have cases of Aids, people dying from advanced HIV disease in our province, today in 2025. It spells a problem; we also have a huge problem with stigma,” he said.
“The fight against stigma starts with me and you at individual levels, at organisations, we all have to put our heads together to fight it because without controlling stigma we cannot win, we will still be afraid to disclose their status, afraid to get treatment, afraid of the stigma and transmission of the virus will go on.”
NAC Bulawayo provincial manager, Mr Douglas Moyo, attributed the decline in HIV prevalence in Bulawayo to improved health-seeking behaviour, particularly among men.
He commended the male population for their growing willingness to seek health services, describing it as a key factor in reducing infections.
“For males, the prevalence rate dropped from 9,9 percent to 7,8 percent. This is commendable progress. It is not easy for males to queue at public health institutions for their wellness,” he said.
Among females, prevalence rates also fell from 16,3 percent in 2020 to 13,6 percent by the end of 2024.
“As Bulawayo, we will make sure we don’t lag in the national fight against HIV,” he added.
Despite the encouraging data, Mr Moyo cited several barriers that continue to hinder the effectiveness of workplace wellness programmes.
He noted low awareness among employers, poor risk perception, and limited time allocated for wellness activities as major constraints.
