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COLLECTIVE efforts by the Government and private sector have resulted in significant strides in curbing the HIV pandemic leading to a decline in deaths.
Zimbabwe’s HIV/AIDS prevalence rate has dropped to 11.58 percent.
The mortality rate has dropped from 350 deaths per day in 2002 to 50 per day.
The AIDS mortality rate has dropped significantly and more than one million people, out of 1.3 million living with HIV, are now receiving lifesaving antiretroviral therapy, with improved quality of life and productivity.
People on treatment live longer.
Those yet to enter the treatment phase are unaware of their status.
Speaking at a media workshop on Friday, National Aids Council monitoring and evaluation director, Amon Mpofu, said for Zimbabwe to achieve 95-95-95 target for 2025, people should continue to protect themselves to avoid new infections.
“We are now working towards the 95-95-95 targets for 2025.
“HIV is still there so there is a need to continue protecting yourselves, intervention of antiretroviral and other interventions is helping to reduce deaths,” he said.
NAC chief executive, Bernard Madzima, urged the media to also utilise contemporary methods of sharing and disseminating critical information on HIV and AIDS.
“We need to understand that HIV and AIDS — while some of you may think it’s now a tired story – still deserves our attention.
“We must capitalise on the ubiquitous nature of social media as well to reach our audiences on the spot,” Madzima said.
“We count on you not only to publicise and report on them, but also to question and flag issues of accountability in how resources in the entire response are utilised.”
Mathew Masinge
Online Reporter