MEN STEP UP, HIV STEPS DOWN! Bulawayo leads the fight

Young women are emerging as the most vulnerable group of the HIV burden

Nqobile Bhebhe

MEN in Bulawayo are finally breaking the silence, and it is showing in the numbers.

The city’s HIV prevalence has dropped from 13.2 percent in 2020 to 10.7 percent by the end of 2024, a major victory in the ongoing war against the virus.

National AIDS Council (NAC) Bulawayo provincial manager Douglas Moyo revealed the latest figures during a CEOs breakfast meeting held in the city on Wednesday. The indaba, themed “Promoting Private Sector Coordination and Expanding ZIPSHAWA’s Presence in the Southern Region,” was organised by the Zimbabwe Private Sector HIV and Wellness (ZIPSHAWA) and NAC.

Moyo said the results prove that men are starting to take their health seriously, a shift that is long overdue.

“For males, the prevalence rate dropped from 9.9 percent to 7.8 percent. This is commendable progress. It is not easy for males to queue at public health institutions for their wellness,” he said.
Women also showed strong progress, with prevalence down from 16.3 percent in 2020 to 13.6 percent in 2024.

“As Bulawayo, we will make sure we do not lag behind in the national fight against HIV,” said Moyo.

But even with the good news, Moyo warned that complacency could reverse the gains. He said many workplaces still treat health programmes as an afterthought, giving them little time and money.

“Workers spend most of their time at work, so information should reach them there. Some CEOs organise sessions but do not attend themselves,” he said.

He said wellness activities are often squeezed between tea and lunch breaks, making it hard for employees to participate meaningfully.

Still, the mood at the meeting was upbeat, with participants agreeing that Bulawayo’s private sector must keep pushing towards the 2030 national HIV targets.
“Going towards 2030, we need everyone to accelerate participation,” Moyo urged.
The meeting also focused on boosting ZIPSHAWA’s visibility, strengthening workplace wellness, and finding quick-win interventions to keep the city’s HIV curve on the decline.

Bulawayo may just be showing the rest of the country how it is done, one test and one brave step at a time.