Online Reporter
Rumbidzayi Zinyuke, Senior Reporter
President Mnangagwa has reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to increasing domestic financing for health to safeguard Zimbabwe’s hard-won gains in the fight against HIV and Aids.
Today, the country joins the world in commemorating World Aids Day, which presents an opportunity to honour the lives lost to Aids, celebrate the progress made and reaffirm the country’s commitment to ending Aids as a public health threat by 2030.
In his address yesterday, President Mnangagwa said Zimbabwe’s progress in achieving and surpassing global HIV targets must be protected through stronger national investment in health systems.
“The Zimbabwe Health Financing Dialogue theme of ‘More money for health and more health for the money’ speaks directly to our focus as a nation,” he said.
“Government remains fully committed to mobilising domestic resources to ensure that no one is left behind.
“We are transforming our response from dependency to self-determination, and from fragmented vertical programmes to a fully integrated national health system.”
President Mnangagwa noted that despite a decline in global funding and emerging health issues, Zimbabwe continued to shape a resilient, home-grown response.
The country has surpassed the UNAids 95-95-95 global targets and achieved epidemic control in 2022. Statistics show that 97 percent of people living with HIV know their status, over 95 percent are on life-saving antiretroviral therapy and 96 percent of those on treatment are virally suppressed.
The achievements reflect the dedication of Zimbabwe’s leadership, as the Second Republic, communities and health workers work together.
President Mnangagwa said the gains made so far assure the leadership that the nation is firmly on the path towards ending Aids.
“Yet, challenges remain. Young people, women and other vulnerable groups continue to bear a disproportionate burden.
“Stigma still discourages many from seeking prevention and treatment services, while financial resources have never been adequate,” he said.
The President said the National Aids Trust Fund (Aids Levy) remains a cornerstone of sustainable domestic financing, adding that bold steps are being taken to ensure increased Government investment in health in line with continental commitments.
“My Government is accelerating reforms of the broader health delivery system. Accordingly, bold steps are underway to increase budgetary support for health towards the Abuja target,” he added.
The Abuja declaration, made in April 2001 during the African Summit on HIV/Aids, Tuberculosis, and other related infectious diseases, is a historic pledge by African governments to allocate at least 15 percent of their annual budgets to the health sector.
The commitment seeks to enhance health care and combat diseases like HIV/Aids across the continent.
President Mnangagwa said the 2025 World Aids Day theme, “Overcoming disruption, transforming the Aids response”, reflects the realities facing the country after Covid-19 disruptions and emerging threats from non-communicable diseases, climate-related emergencies and outbreaks such as Mpox.
“These setbacks have slowed critical prevention programmes. However, they have also strengthened our resolve.
“As a nation, we continue to chart a response that is home-grown, home-financed and aligned to our priorities, guided by our enduring mantra; ‘Nyika inovakwa nevene vayo/ Ilizwe lakhiwa ngabanikazi balo’,” he said.
Zimbabwe’s selection among 10 countries piloting the long-acting injectable HIV prevention drug is a sign of global confidence in its response efforts, added the President.
Looking ahead, the national priority is to expand prevention and treatment, address gender inequalities, integrate HIV services with other health interventions and secure long-term sustainability through domestic resource mobilisation.
President Mnangagwa said HIV will remain a public health priority as part of the broader pursuit of universal health coverage.
“I wish to express my profound appreciation to the Ministry of Health and Child Care, the National Aids Council, development partners and our dedicated health workers for their steadfast commitment. “Together, we will consolidate our gains and finish the journey we have begun. Zimbabwe will end Aids as a public health threat by 2030,” President Mnangagwa said.
Londile Moyo