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Peter Tanyanyiwa
Herald Correspondent
As Zimbabwe continues its relentless march towards achieving the UNAIDS 95-95-95 targets aimed at ending the HIV/AIDS epidemic, a powerful movement is taking shape.
Women living with HIV are stepping into leadership roles, challenging the status quo, and driving change in their communities.
At the forefront of this movement are Tendai Westerhoff, National Director of the Pan-African Positive Women’s Coalition Zimbabwe (PAPWC-ZIM), and Martha Tholanah, a dedicated community advocate.
Their voices resonate with urgency, calling for empowerment and engagement of women.
Currently, an estimated 1,3 million Zimbabweans are living with HIV, with women making up approximately 60 percent of this population.
Alarmingly, young women and adolescent girls are disproportionately affected, highlighting the critical need for targeted interventions.
Westerhoff emphasised that the feminisation of the epidemic is not just a statistic but a call to action.
“We need to ensure that women living with HIV are meaningfully engaged in the response to the epidemic,” said Westerhoff.
“Their unique needs, including the eradication of stigma and discrimination, must be addressed to achieve our goals.”
This sentiment captures the essence of why empowering women is paramount to the success of the HIV response.
The UNAIDS 95-95-95 targets seek to see 95 percent of the population knowing their HIV status, 95 percent of those diagnosed receiving treatment, and 95 percent of those on treatment achieving viral suppression.
Westerhoff asserts that achieving these targets is not only vital for public health but also for community empowerment and social mobilisation.
“When women lead, communities thrive,” she said, adding that empowerment is integral to sustainable progress.
However, the journey is fraught with challenges.
Stigma remains a formidable barrier, often resulting in discrimination from families and communities.
Women who disclose their HIV status often face judgment and ostracisation, particularly breastfeeding mothers who are discouraged from nurturing their infants.
“When a woman tests positive, she often becomes the first to seek healthcare and disclose her status, yet she is also the first to face stigma,” Westerhoff noted.
Martha Tholanah, a member of the Community Advisory Board with the University of Zimbabwe Clinical Trials Research Centre echoed the need for education as a transformative tool in changing societal attitudes towards HIV.
“Education, both formal and informal, is key to changing societal attitudes towards people with HIV,” she said.
Tholanah’s advocacy is evident in her work with the Stepping Stones Trainers Engaging with Activist Movements (STREAM) Network Zimbabwe, which focuses on reducing stigma and promoting understanding in communities.
In her role, Tholanah emphasises the revival of treatment literacy and advocacy programs that once flourished in Zimbabwe.
“These programs empowered community advocates to reach out to various demographics, including educational institutions and rural communities. Reviving these initiatives is essential for pushing the nation toward the goal of ending AIDS by 2030,” she explained.
This proactive approach stresses the necessity of building a network of informed advocates to champion the cause.
Both Westerhoff and Tholanah agree that no single entity can tackle the HIV/AIDS epidemic alone. Collaboration is essential, as well as ensuring that the voices of marginalised populations are heard.
Online Reporter