admineveryone to redouble and synchronise their efforts towards ensuring that the nation ultimately gets to zero new HIV infections, zero stigma and discrimination and zero Aids-related deaths.
While this may appear a rather over ambitious goal, stakeholders involved in the national multi-sectoral response to HIV and Aids believe this could be achieved if the nation scaled up prevention strategies like the prevention of mother to child transmission of HIV (PMTCT), correct and consistent use of condoms, male circumcision, reducing multiple concurrent partnerships, abstinence among the youths, among others- as well as improving access to anti-retroviral treatment to those infected by HIV.
Recent research has revealed that anti-retroviral therapy reduces HIV transmission.
Stakeholders also believe that the goal could be achieved if leaders at all levels earnestly play their part in the response to the epidemic, particularly through community mobilisation for social and behaviour change programmes targeted at vulnerable populations and resource mobilisation for the entire response.
It is against this backdrop that the national World Aids Day committee comprising various stakeholders, under the co-ordination of the National Aids Council, unanimously adopted the 2011 global World Aids Campaign theme – “Getting Zero which entails Zero new HIV infections, Zero stigma and discrimination, Zero Aids-related deaths”, which they post fixed with the campaign message – “Leaders make universal access a reality”.
The adopted theme hence reads:” Getting to Zero – Leaders make universal access a reality”.
The main national World Aids Day commemoration will be held tomorrow at Sakubva Stadium in Mutare, Manicaland Province, where a top Government official is expected to officiate.
The commemoration gives Zimbabweans the opportunity to once more reflect upon achievements, challenges and prospects for the national response to the epidemic which has been characterised by a continued decline in HIV prevalence from a high of over 30 percent in the 90s to the current 14,2 percent, according to the 2009 HIV estimates.
The continued decline has been attributed to the implementation of evidence-informed preventive strategies and the effectiveness of the multi-sectoral response underpinned by the global Three Ones principle which entails one co-ordinating authority (National Aids Council), one strategic framework (Zimbabwe National HIV and Aids Strategic Plan – ZNASP 2 2100-2015) and one monitoring and evaluation framework (administered by the NAC).
According to the NAC 2011 Third Quarter Report covering the period January to September, the country has continued to make significant progress across the thematic areas of prevention, treatment, care and support and mitigation.
Antiretroviral Therapy Programme
There was a 6,7percent increase in the number of adult people on ART from 362 179 in second quarter to 386 461 in the third quarter. At the same time the number of children on ART increased from 36 001 in the second quarter to 39 036 in the third quarter giving, a percentage increase of 8,4 percent.
The National Aids Council continued to support the OI/ART outreach programmes across all the provinces and this has contributed to the rising numbers of clients receiving treatment services.
The NAC also managed to procure significant stocks of ARV drugs and diagnostic equipment through the Aids levy, augmenting supplies from the Global Fund, the Expanded Support Programme and other donors.
Youth programmes
Under the Youth Programme, there was a great improvement in the participation and involvement of young people in the national response from grassroots level structures of the Young People’s Network on HIV and Aids.
For the out of school youths programme, there was an increase in number of youths exposed to HIV and Aids education. NAC supported 183 peer educators through the ZNFPC programme in eight provinces and a total of 14 212 young people were reached in the third quarter.
Male circumcision
There was massive increase in the uptake of MC services during the third quarter, with a total of 14 970 males getting circumcised compared to 8 319 circumcised in the second quarter.
A countrywide national campaign targeting the male youths for circumcision managed to circumcise a total number of 12 644 as compared to the April campaign which managed to circumcise about 7 000. In addition, the Shangani traditional medical male circumcision seasonal camp managed to circumcise a total of 2 326.
Mitigation
In a bid to scale up interventions aimed at mitigating the impact of HIV on orphans and vulnerable children, the NAC contributed US$270 000 towards the Basic Education Assistance Module (BEAM) which benefited 10 000 children.
Various partners also pooled resources towards the Children’s Protection Fund under the National Action Plan on Orphans and Vulnerable Children.
Challenges in the HIV response
There are, however, fears that the gains made so far in the national response could be reversed due to declining funding due to the global economic recession which has seen the Global Fund failing to raise enough funds to assist developing countries.
The Expanded Support Programme, which put 80 000 patients on ART, is also coming to an end this year , while MSF Spain which was supporting the ART programme in Midlands has since handed over 7 000 patients to the Public ART programme.
Donor funding for the HIV response currently stands at 76 percent while the Aids levy accounts for 24 percent.
Prospects for the response
Given the circumstances, stakeholders said it was thus imperative for the nation to invest more in HIV prevention programmes which were less expensive to ensure the attainment of the current World
Aids Campaign theme.
“Prevention of new HIV infections should be the cornerstone of our response. It does not cost much to change one’s behaviour, stick to one partner, use condoms correctly and consistently,” said the chairperson of the WAD planning committee, Walter Tapfumanei, of the Zimbabwe Aids Network.
“For pregnant mothers, there is no reason whatsoever why they should give birth to HIV positive children with the advent of the PMTCT programme, but this calls for co-operation of husbands and family members.
“Leaders at all levels should play their part in spreading the prevention gospel, people should change their behaviour and ensure they avoid new infections and that way we can achieve zero new infections, stigma and discrimination and Aids-related deaths.”
NAC Communications Director Ms Medelina Dube reiterated that call for leaders to make universal access a reality was not only targeted at political leaders, but to everyone in a leadership position from families – parents and guardians – institutional heads, communi-ties, churches , the corporate sector, traditional leaders and policymakers comprising legislators and Government officials at all levels.
“Leaders should play their part in social and behaviour change, they should mobilise resources for the response, while everyone else should also play their part by ensuring they know their status and adopt safer lifestyles to ensure zero new infections, stigma and discrimination and Aids-related deaths,” she said.
Online Reporter