UN calls for more effort in fight against HIV/Aids

Tanaka Mahanya

UNITED Nations Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator, Edward Kallon, says more needs to be done in the global fight against HIV/AIDS.

In a speech at the World Aids Day commemorations in Marondera yesterday, he said there was a need to move faster on a set of concrete actions to address the inequalities that are driving HIV/Aids.

“Given the current trajectory, the curve is not bending fast enough and risks an AIDS pandemic lasting for a decade.

“In December 2020, UNAIDS released a new set of ambitious targets calling for 95 percent of all people living with HIV to know their HIV status.

“Ninety-five percent of all people with diagnosed HIV infection are to receive sustained antiretroviral therapy, and 95 percent of all people receiving antiretroviral therapy should have viral suppression by 2025,” said Kallon.

He said Zimbabwe is the first country in Africa, and the third in the world, behind Australia and the United States, to approve CAB-LA, a long-acting injectable medication that prevents HIV.

“Progress in AIDS, which was already off track, is now under even greater strain due to Covid-19 pandemic and resultant crisis, disrupting HIV prevention and treatment services, schooling and violence prevention programmes.

“There is a need to address the starkest inequalities impeding access to treatment for children and adults.

“Only half of children living with HIV are on life-saving treatment, far behind adults where three quarters are receiving antiretrovirals.

“I am glad to note that Zimbabwe has joined The Global Alliance to end AIDS in children, which is a strategic initiative to end AIDS in children by 2030,” he said.

He said the nation should tackle the dangerous inequality of gender norms.

“Right now, around the world, an adolescent girl or young woman acquires HIV every two minutes.

“The focus of the HIV response is on women and children who are often viewed as victims.

“Therefore, there is a need to promote human rights for all to tackle inequality standing in the way of ending AIDS.

“The UNAIDS Global AIDS Strategy (2021-2026) recognises Stigma and discrimination as a major cause of inequalities to access services.

“The Network of PLHIV (ZNNP+) has just completed a Stigma study which has highlighted that 69.7 percent of people living with HIV still experience various forms of stigma and discrimination compared to 65 percent in 2014.”