Vusumuzi Dube
Robin Muchetu in Rusape
MANICALAND Province will this year host the national World Aids Day (WAD) commemorations in Rusape with a marathon set to take place on the day for the first time ever.
WAD is celebrated annually on 1December.
Mr Spencer Banguza the District Aids Coordinator (DAC) for National Aids Council (NAC) for Makoni District said various programmes have been lined up for the day.
“We are at an advanced stage of preparations for WAD commemorations. We have done a lot of preparatory meetings with various sub committees at district, provincial and national level. We have done all ground work and we will have a marathon as a prelaunch activity,” said Mr Banguza.
The marathon is the first of its kind for WAD celebrations and athletes from across the country have shown interest and registered for the event which will be free for everyone.
Mr Banguza said the District has recorded several successes with closing the tap on new infections being a topical issue.
“We have managed to reduce the number of new infections and our incidences are going down. We are doing well also in linking patients to care. We are doing the test and treat method where if we test you and you are found to be HIV positive we initiate you on treatment immediately,” said Mr Banguza.
The district is also providing quality treatment, care and support services.
“We have the community ART treatment and care facilitators programme which provides door to door ART delivery services for stable clients taking ART in Makoni District and we have been getting positive results. This has all been possible through a multi-sectoral response to HIV. We are working with different partners both Government and non Governmental side, C
community based organisations and traditional leadership, we have managed to rope in everyone in the HIV response,” said Mr Banguza.
The DAC said the Covid-19 pandemic was one of the drawbacks on their work due to restricted access to facilities where they used to access treatment and other services.
This was however overcome by the mobile teams that delivered medicines.
He highlighted that food is essential for patients to take their medication effectively saying the El Nino induced drought was posing challenges as some villagers spend more time looking for supplementary food. The mobile teams assist those in need of delivery services.
Mr Banguza said Makoni District has recorded a significant decline in new infections.
@NyembeziMu
Online Reporter