adminSpeaking at a Press conference at MSF offices in Bulawayo yesterday, Ms Vinoles said new mechanisms should be put in place so that the country could reach out to more people in terms of eliminating new HIV and Aids infections.
“The major challenge that we face in the fight against HIV and Aids is the payment of user fees and additional costs.
“The entry point for the Prevention of Mother to Child Transmission (PMTCT) is the antenatal care for pregnant women where they are required to pay but many women cannot afford to pay,” said Ms Vinoles.
“There is a need for the Ministry of Health and Child Welfare to put mechanisms that would stop women from staying at home when they are pregnant, as this is a major setback in the fight against HIV and Aids.”
She said although treatment was free for people living with HIV and Aids, additional costs for tests were not affordable to many.
“As MSF we focus on the PMTCT and paediatric treatments. At the moment only 31 percent of the children in the country are receiving treatment.
“We fully support the Ministry of Health’s target of over 80 percent coverage, but we need a fully compiled package of free services to reach the target,” said Ms Vinoles.
She said the decentralisation of health facilities would also go a long way in eliminating HIV and Aids.
“Treatment should be cheaper and closer. Task shifting and sharing is also important as nurses can do it through mentorship programmes.
“In 2006 only 32 clinics were offering anti-retroviral treatment (ART) before the number grew to 545 and more than 1 600 at present but we still need more clinics,” said Ms Vinoles.
She said stigma and discrimination in communities was another challenge in the fight against HIV and Aids.
“There are still a lot of myths which create serious stigma and discrimination attitudes in families and communities and a lot of educational programmes are required for people to fully accept people living with the pandemic,” said Ms Vinoles.
She said in its efforts to educate people about the virus in Zimbabwe, MSF was involving musicians in its new project to fight stigmatisation.
The project “Project Generation. Voices for an HIV free future,” involves Zimbabwe’s musicians Oliver Mtukudzi and Chiwoniso Maraire.
Ms Vinoles said support groups, largely made up of Zimbabweans infected and affected by HIV were the best example of an open, positive approach to HIV and Aids.
The project will be launched this afternoon at a Bulawayo hotel.
The non-governmental organisation, which started working in the country in 2000, is supporting more than 35 000 people living with HIV and Aids.
Online Reporter