Online Reporter
Thupeyo Muleya
Beitbridge Bureau
The Netherlands (Dutch) Ambassador to Zimbabwe Mr Matthijs Pieter van Eeuwen has commended the Government’s HIV intervention programmes, saying they place the country on course to achieve zero new HIV infections by 2030.
Speaking to journalists in Beitbridge on Thursday after touring projects supported by the Dutch government through the International Organisation for Migration, the envoy said the initiatives under the “HIV Knows No Borders” concept started in 2023 were making a measurable impact.
He noted that cross-border health interventions were critical in reaching mobile populations and reducing transmission along migration routes.
The “SRHR-HIV Knows No Borders” regional programme covers seven countries in Southern Africa which include, Eswatini, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, South Africa, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
“I am impressed that Zimbabwe has made good achievements towards the 2030 projection to having zero new HIV infections. They are on track to get to that feat. We are not yet there but we have seen great progress in terms of HIV intervention programmes. I hope that it will be possible for the Government of Zimbabwe to achieve the target even before the year 2030,” said Ambassador Eeuwen.
He said a lot of progress had been made as the country worked on reducing new infections with the support of the HIV Know no borders.
“As the Dutch Government, we committed 89 million Euros to this regional programme with 24,5 million Euros being channelled directly to the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) to implement the programme working with host governments,” said the ambassador.
“We have come to Beitbridge, where we have been having engagements with key stakeholders and understanding the scope or the progress.
“Together with the team we have noted a huge progress on HIV intervention and the change of attitudes to sexual reproductive health issues. We are pleased to see IOM working in coordination with the Government on this project”.
He continued, “The fund is coming to an end and we are now discussing the next steps going forward considering that we have had budget cuts from the Netherlands government”.
Ambassador Eeuwen said the increase in dialogue and the improved treatment and engagements in the community needs to be sustained through the building of more infrastructure.
He said with the right attitude, coordination and team work he had seen on the ground the HIV intervention programmes will go on for several years saving more lives and changing attitudes.
The Government is fully committed to ending AIDS as a public health threat and achieving zero new HIV infections by 2030.
This position aligns with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and is a key healthcare priority integrated into the country’s national economic blueprint, Vision 2030.
At the moment, the country is widely recognized as a global leader in epidemic control, having already surpassed the global 95-95-95 targets (with 97% of people living with HIV knowing their status, 95% on antiretroviral therapy (ART), and 96% virally suppressed), the government’s position has shifted from standard epidemic management to aggressive, targeted prevention and sustainable elimination.
The Chief of Mission for the IOM to Zimbabwe is Ms Diana Cartier said “In Beitbridge we have been working with the Government of Zimbabwe for almost 20 years supporting people who would have been deported from South Africa or those coming back in a vulnerable state. Then on the HIV Knows no borders we started it with the support of the Netherlands Government”.
She said the SRHDR programme supports communities around Beitbridge focusing on sexual reproductive health for the youths, sex workers, migrants and the entire community.
“We were also addressing issues of understanding HIV and the importance of knowing one’s status. We have enlisted the support of local authorities and traditional leaders,” said Ms Cartier.
“We spent the last two days here with the Netherlands Ambassador appreciating and understanding the work done within different communities around Beitgrgde district. The progress on the ground is noted.
“In addition, we have introduced a mobile health clinic which goes to 10 different locations within the district 10 times a month. This has seen more men embracing issues of sexual reproductive health. They are accessing medical care directly within their communities without having to travel for longer distances. This has also brought a change in attitudes to issues of child protection. The benefits will be long lasting.”
