adminNgoni Dapira
SINCE the discovery of the first case of HIV and AIDS in 1985 locally, stigma remains one of the greatest threats in Zimbabwe’s on-going national response to HIV and Aids. A lot of people still fear getting tested to know their HIV status, let alone openly disclosing their HIV status. However, with the innovation of HIV self-test kits where one can perform the test privately, all that is soon to change or will it?
Minister of State for Manicaland Provincial Affairs, Cde Mandi Chimene, recently elevated support for HIV self-testing kits citing that they were an inescapable future that must be embraced.
This was said during an HIV intervention at the workplace breakfast meeting organised by the National AIDS Council Manicaland chapter in Mutare recently.
Answering a question on Zimbabwe’s position on HIV self-testing kits, Manicaland Provincial Medical Director, Dr Patron Mafaune, pointed out that the Ministry of Health and Child Care had not yet openly initiated the programme, but the HIV self-test kits were available in some private pharmacies.
NAC Manicaland provincial AIDS co-ordinator, Mr Lawrence Kupara, concurred and said there was still need for scientific inquiry on the applicability of the HIV self-testing kits from a Zimbabwean social and cultural context.
In her response, Cde Chimene was quick to articulate that HIV self-test kits were an inescapable reality.
She said for developing countries to realise the joint United Nations Programme on HIV and Aids (UNAIDS) 90-90-90 target for 2020 to end AIDS by 2030, HIV self-testing kits were a creative starting-point.
“On the matter of HIV self-testing kits, I feel it is the future and a good initiative that we should embrace as a nation to progress the drive for every person to know their HIV status.
“Yes, it was a good point raised about considering how the HIV self-testing kits may cause more deaths than good in our society due to suicides after people find out their status in confidence without professional counselling.
“I also nonetheless strongly feel that present-day HIV is no longer that shocking to most people, so if people are well prepared about self- testing kits the scheme is very good,” she said.
In the United Kingdom in April last year, government made it legal for HIV testing kits to be bought over-the-counter and for people to test and diagnose themselves for HIV at home.
The UNAIDS 90-90-90 target for 2020 seeks to ensure that 90 percent of those on Anti Retroviral Treatment have an undetectable viral load, 90 percent of all those diagnosed HIV positive be on sustained ART and for 90 percent of all people living with HIV to know their status.
The World Health Organisation, however, recently noted that in several countries HIV self-testing remains illegal while the regulatory processes are often complex.
HIV self-testing kits can diagnose HIV in approximately 15 minutes.
They are, however, a bit expensive in private pharmacies on average costing around $20, compared to the free testing at New Start Centres.
Cde Chimene added that the 14 percent HIV prevalence rate in Manicaland was still too high and would require a multi-sectoral approach to curb it.
She urged companies to take HIV- related issues seriously as they had huge impact on business.
“Stigmatisation of people with HIV should not be tolerated in the workplace.
“Companies should also try to assist their employees on health- related issues. Without health benefits most people shy away and not see the need to disclose their HIV status,” said Cde Chimene.
Dr Mafaune revealed that the ART decentralisation programme in Manicaland was now at an advanced stage to de-congest pressure at provincial hospitals and convenience HIV patients.
She said 253 clinics out of 283 in Manicaland were now offering ART, while all clinics are now offering Option B+ for pregnant women.
The WHO Option B+ guidelines prescribed in 2013 recommend providing life-long ART to all pregnant and breastfeeding women living with HIV regardless of CD4 count.
Moreover, ART will be maintained after delivery and completion of breastfeeding for life.
Online Reporter