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Fungai Lupande Mash Central Bureau
The National Aids Council (NAC) is strengthening the people-centred approach and empowering communities to take the lead in HIV prevention, treatment and care so that no one and no place is left behind.
This follows mistaken beliefs that the HIV burden was over following the introduction of medication that can control the infection and some people were beginning to engage in risky sexual behaviour.
Speaking during a leaders’ advocacy meeting in Mazowe recently, NAC provincial manager Mr Edgar Muzulu said the contribution by community leaders was key in informing, planning and programming to solve problems on the ground.
Community leaders needed to take the lead in encouraging each other to get tested and create social protection systems.
The meeting was attended by community leaders including pastors, councillors and opinion leaders from all eight districts of Mashonaland Central.
Mr Muzulu said communities must be able to generate new information, identify problems affecting them and come up with solutions.
NAC was now targeting geo-specific areas with their own unique problems and looking for a way to respond.
“We are encouraging peer-led intervention in communities.
“You are here because you have an impact in your communities and we want information to get to everyone,” he said.
“We want to tap into the influence and wisdom of community leaders to contribute to the national response.
“Leaders must initiate the ignition of efforts to bring change and tackle unmet HIV or Aids related needs.”
Mr Muzulu said the meeting was an opportunity to upgrade leaders in the response to HIV response.
Sister-in-Charge at Shamva Hospital Sister Juliet Matsaure said interventions, treatment and care of HIV becomes harder over the years due to drug resistance.
Some people are defaulting treatment due to self-stigma, creating drug resistance, she said.
New born babies are tested although there is a programme of preventing mother to child transmission.
“Anyone who tests HIV positive is immediately put on medication under the test and treat programme. However, we are still having babies who are testing positive for HIV.”
Sister Matsaure said some couples were not opening up on their HIV status to each other, making the risk of transmission to the child during pregnancy high. Health seeking behaviour of men was still low despite incentives to lure them to clinics.
Zimbabwe National Family Planning Council provincial manager Mrs Getrude Katsande said Mashonaland Central was tops in teenage pregnancy, with Muzarabani leading at 31 percent.
Councillor Cathrine Mahachi said a traditional dance called Honda was exposing young girls to sexual abuse.
Mr Lancelot Magede from Muzarabani said there was need to strengthen parent-to-child communication to empower the girl-child with adequate information to make right decisions.
Mrs Mildred Nyamhunga from Rushinga said she noted that children born with HIV were not disclosing their status when they got married.
“Whenever I get the opportunity at church or funerals I will talk about HIV and Aids,” she said.
Mrs Fortunate Chihuri said many people in Mazowe were defaulting on HIV treatment, believing they would have been cured.
“People need constant reminders to stay on treatment for life despite how strong one feels. I foresee home-based care returning to people who already had adequate information about the disease.”
Online Reporter