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Health Reporter
The Zimbabwe HIV and Aids Activist Union has launched an 11-day community awareness campaign in Mashonaland East to energise people living with the virus ahead of the World Aids Day commemorations. Speaking from Murehwa District Hospital, where one of the campaigns was taking place recently, ZHAAU secretary general Mr Stanley Takaona said HIV positive people should take ownership of the day because it was meant for them.
“Sadly, most people in these communities are not aware of the significance of this day and merely attend the commemorations, if they do at all,” said Mr Takaona.
He said once HIV positive people took ownership of the day, future commemorations should be designed and led by the infected as this reflected meaningful involvement of people living with HIV and Aids.
Mr Takaona said even if they failed to participate at the national commemorations, people living with HIV should hold similar commemorations at district level.
“This is the day we honour the departed souls, a day dedicated to us and should be led by us,” he said.
Mr Takaona said during the campaigns, they would also share problems faced by people living with HIV with regards to access to treatment and services.
He said some of the issues emanating from the campaigns were user fees to access antiretroviral drugs, food shortages to complement drug intake and long distances to the ARV collection centres.
At Murehwa District Hospital, adults receiving ARVs are paying US$8 as user fees each time they intend to get their allocations, while children pay US$6.
One of the people receiving treatment from the centre who spoke on condition of anonymity said if they failed to pay the money for two consecutive visits they were denied treatment.
“When I told them I did not have the US$16 I owed the hospital from my previous two visits, they said I should wait outside. I came here in the morning and this is midday, still no one has attended to me. I do not know whether I am still going to get the ARVs or I should return with the money,” he said.
Another woman from the centre pleaded with Government to remove the user fees, saying it was a barrier to access of ARVs.
The woman said together with her 11-year-old child they part away with US$14 every month, yet she survives from a fruit market.
Other HIV positive people expressed concern over failure by health institutions to perform repeated CD4 count tests on people already taking ARVs to monitor their progress.
One of the people said he was put on ARVs when his CD4 count was at zero in 2009. Although he seems to have responded well to the medication, no further tests where done on him to determine his progress.
“As I speak, I do not even know the level of my CD4 count. I last knew it was at zero,” he said.
ZHAAU said these are some of the challenges discussed with communities during their campaign ahead of December 1 in an effort to put up corrective measures.
District committees are being set up during the process to look into problems faced by people living with HIV and proffer immediate solutions. This year’s World Aids Day commemorations will be held in Chivhu, Mashonaland East province on Sunday.
The commemorations will run under the theme: “Getting to Zero, Zero New infections, Zero deaths and Zero Discrimination”.
Other activities lined up in the build up to the day include a contest for Mr and Mrs ARV, a soccer match and a candle lighting memorial.
Online Reporter