Moffat Mungazi
Tendai Gukutikwa
Post Reporter
HEALTH and Child Care Minister Dr Douglas Mombeshora has assured the nation that sufficient stocks of antiretroviral drugs (ARV) are available to cater to both existing patients and new cases despite the recent withdrawal of funding by the United State.
This assurance comes after the US froze aid support through USAID, which had provided significant funding for Zimbabwe’s HIV response.
Speaking at a two-day National AIDS Council (NAC) media workshop in Chinhoyi, Dr Mombeshora said Government has implemented strategies to ensure people living with HIV are not vulnerable.
“We have adequate stocks of antiretroviral drugs to cover all those on treatment and new cases. Everyone will be covered, so there’s no need to panic. Our current stock is sufficient, and we have also procured additional treatment worth US$12 million, which will arrive in June,” he said.
Dr Mombeshora highlighted Government’s long-term initiatives, including the National Health Insurance, aimed at ensuring sustainability.
“The National Health Insurance will cover every Zimbabwean, and premiums will not be deducted from anyone’s salary,” he explained.
The minister noted that Zimbabwe has made significant progress in combating HIV and AIDS, with a notable decline in new infections and AIDS-related deaths.
“We have achieved the 95-95-95 targets set by the global community, meaning 95 percent of people living with HIV know their status, 95 percent of those who know their status are on treatment, and 95 percent of those on treatment have suppressed viral loads,” he said.
Despite this progress, Dr Mombeshora cautioned that HIV and AIDS remain significant public health challenges, and emphasized the importance of integrating their responses with other health issues, such as tuberculosis (TB) and non-communicable diseases.
National AIDS Council chief executive officer, Dr Bernard Madzima represented stressed the need for continued resource mobilization to ensure the success of HIV prevention programmes, given the limited funds from the AIDS levy.
Online Reporter