adminActing provincial medical director for Matabeleland South province Mr Conart Mpofu said this on Wednesday during belated World Aids Day commemorations for Umzingwane district held at Kumbudzi Primary School.
Mr Mpofu, who was the guest of honour, said free testing and ARVs must not give anyone the green light to be promiscuous.
“Do not indulge in unsafe sex lithembe amacondoms lamapilisi lawa eliwathola mahala. Let us continue to stick to one partner and promote safe sex in all our activities because if you live recklessly thinking you are safe because you have free treatment, we are bound to fail,” said Mr Mpofu.
He said the theme which was “Getting to Zero” meant a lot and everyone had to take part to make things happen.
“The three main zeros that I will emphasise are, zero new HIV infections, zero stigma and discrimination and zero Aids-related deaths.
“I am happy to announce that my ministry, in its pursuit to get to zero new infections with support from partners, has redoubled its efforts to eliminate new HIV cases in babies and ensured necessary treatment to keep their mothers alive,” said Mr Mpofu.
He added that the push for treatment should not negate focus on prevention programmes through which the country had been hailed for reducing the HIV prevalence rate.
“On antiretroviral coverage as a country, we still stand at 72 percent coverage yet universal coverage is coverage of 80 percent of those in need of treatment,” he said.
Mr Julian Ngwenya, the acting district medical officer for Umzingwane, said the district continued to offer provider-initiated counseling and testing services at all entry points at its all 15 health facilities.
“For the last couple of months we have been able to do a CD4 count to all pregnant women immediately after diagnosis of HIV infection has been made. This enhances our ability to formulate scientific based treatment plans early during the diagnosis of HIV,” said Mr Ngwenya.
He added that the district was doing well in improving the HIV situation though it still had challenges which include poor infrastructure.
Speaking at the same occasion, Umzingwane Aids Network official, Mr Agrippa Tshuma, from said Aids was not only a pandemic but a national disaster as it had a negative effective on industrial productivity.
“Aids affects the productivity in our country such as the agriculture, transport and the mining sectors. We therefore need to work hard in making sure we wipe out all tendencies that increase this monster in our lives,” said Mr Tshuma.
Local groups and schools which include Friends of Friends, Zibambe Radio Jive, How Mine Support Group, Munkula Primary School, Bezha and Mvuthu secondary schools provided entertainment to the 879 guests. Free testing and counseling services were also offered.
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