Andrew
Nokuthula Dube
HARARE City Council is providing anti-retroviral services to 110 000 residents, with 73,4 percent of people living with HIV in the city knowing their status, the municipality’s Health Services director, Dr Prosper Chonzi, has said.
Council will soon do mobile HIV testing at selected hotspots, and immediately initiate those who test positive on anti-retroviral treatment (ART).
ART services have been decentralised to polyclinics, where training of health care officers takes centre stage.
Dr Chonzi said 94,8 percent of residents who know their HIV status are on ART with 89 percent of them having successfully suppressed their viral load because of adherence to medication.
Dr Chonzi said Council will commission new clinics as part of the strategies to end HIV by 2030.
“We will intensify outreach clinics for general and HIV related services.
“Some of the outreach services will adopt the moonlighting concept where HIV testing and ART initiation services will be availed in hotspots after hours. Outreaches to workplaces will be conducted,” he said.
Dr Chonzi said clinics providing TB, STI, ANC, inpatient and outpatient care will be used to accelerate the programme.
The strategies include targeted community based outreach testing at hotspots.
“A mapping exercise will be done to identify key hotspots. Mobile HIV testing will be provided in the hotspots as well,” he said.
He said self-testing is being encouraged to increase coverage.
Online Reporter