adminA national door-to-door HIV and Aids survey which kicks off this week in Binga, Matabeleland North, has been given a major boost after traditional leaders in the area said they have mobilised people to fully participate in the programme.
The $3 million survey seeks to ascertain the burden of HIV and Aids in the country and assess the impact of interventions rolled out so far. HIV testing and counselling services will also be provided. The findings of the survey — expected to run for six months — will be used to inform social services planning in line with Zim-Asset.
Director of the Aids and TB Unit in the Ministry of Health and Child Care Dr Owen Mugurungi said the team which is expected to conduct the survey has had refresher courses.
“Everything is going on well. The team is having refresher courses. People must brace for the survey and based on the pre-trials we have conducted, people responded well hence we will not have any difficulties or problems in rolling out the programme,” said Dr Mugurungi.
The survey provides an opportunity for Government to take stock of what it has achieved in the last decade after HIV was declared an emergency in 2002. Chief Phashu of Binga said he feels honoured to have the survey start in his area. He said the message has been spread to all villagers and people are well prepared for it.
“This is an important exercise because everyone deserves to know their status. As chiefs in the area, we have raised awareness of the programme and people are prepared to be part of the survey. Since we have been chosen to be the first group or areas where the survey is being held, we will not disappoint but rather we will set the pace,” said Chief Phashu.
Key focus issues of the survey include prevalence of HIV in adults and children, prevalence of anti-retroviral drug resistance, prevalence of syphilis among adults and coverage of ARVs in the country.
Chief Siansali also from Binga said the mobilising team which Government tasked with the greater responsibility of raising awareness of survey has played its part.
“Such a survey is not easy to roll out because people will be having different thoughts and perceptions which need to be resolved. I am happy all the myths and doubts that people were having have been solved. I am confident that the exercise will yield its desired results,” he said.
The study, the first of its kind in Africa, is targeting a sample size of 15 000 households randomly selected from all the country’s 10 provinces. The Ministry of Health and Child Care is leading the implementation of the programme in partnership with the National Aids Council, Zimbabwe National Statistics Agency (Zimstat), Biomedical Research and Training Institute and other international partners which include ICAP at Columbia University, the US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Westat.
Bulawayo’s referral hospital, Mpilo, is one of the hospitals earmarked for upgrading to cater for laboratory services.
Other hospitals targeted for upgrading were Parirenyatwa, Gokwe, Gweru, Guruve, Gwanda, Karoi, Mutoko, Hwange, Mutare, Masvingo and Beitbridge.
For the exercise, the ministry has also procured 27 pima machines (used for CD4 count testing) and 45 height boards and scales (for growth monitoring), which will be distributed to clinics and hospitals across the country.
Online Reporter