Online Reporter
Robin Muchetu in UMZINGWANE
ZIMBABWE has pledged a US$1 million contribution to the Global Fund Grant Cycle 8 as the Government rallies its partners for increased collaboration to sustain gains achieved in the fight against HIV and Aids.
This is bold commitment to alleviating the burden of HIV, tuberculosis and malaria while building strong and resilient health systems in the face of funding cuts by donors.
Speaking at World Aids Day commemorations in Umzingwane District yesterday, which ran under the theme: “Overcoming disruption, transforming the Aids response”, Health and Child Care Minister Dr Douglas Mombeshora said strategic partnerships were critical.
“As we talk about progress we must also talk about partnership. Zimbabwe also made its full contribution to the Global Fund Grant Cycle 7 (GC7) cycle and I am pleased to announce that the Government has pledged US$1 million towards the Global Fund (GC8),” he said.
“This demonstrates our commitment to share responsibility and sustainable financing for the HIV response. We equally value our partnership with GAVI, Unicef, WHO and many others who support Zimbabwe,” said Dr Mombeshora.
He emphasised that partnerships were the only solution to progress and sustainable wins in the HIV sector.
“It’s only through unity that we defeat our greatest challenge. This has been true of our HIV response. Over the years Zimbabwe has built one of the most resilient HIV programmes in the region.
“We met the UNAIDS 95-95-95 targets and today more of our people are living more productive lives. This did not happen by chance, it happened because communities, health workers, Government and partners worked together,” said Dr Mombeshora.
He said with the coming in of the National Development Strategy 2, a lot of support had been targeted towards the health delivery system in the country.
“As we implement National Development Strategy 2, the Government will continue strengthening our health infrastructure, capacitating our health workers and expanding innovative domestic financing to complement the National Aids Trust Fund (Aids Levy),” said the minister.
“We remain committed to community leadership because communities are not just beneficiaries but the backbone of our progress.”
He paid tribute to health workers, community organisations, development partners and the people of Zimbabwe in the fight against HIV.
“Your commitment is the reason we continue to overcome disruptions and transform lives. Together we will finish the journey to HIV elimination. This years’ theme reflects our national character as Zimbabweans, resilient, innovative and committed to progress,” said Dr Mombeshora.
Zimbabwe has registered important milestones as it was selected among the first 10 countries to access ‘Lenacapavir’, the long acting injectable, which will be taken twice a year as a preventive measure for partners of those living with HIV who are not in long-term ARV programmes.
Dr Mombeshora said young people, who are the most affected in terms of HIV, must take advantage of the new injectable.
“To the young people, let me assure you, if you can remember to charge your phone every night, I know two injections a year will not defeat you. We thank PEPFAR for this and other interventions that were ushered in through our partnerships,” he said.
“We expanded blood-based HIV self-testing from eight to 53 districts bringing privacy, convenience and early diagnosis to more people. Testing should never feel like an examination. You cannot fail your status, you can only fail by not knowing it.”
The country has also strengthened services for children who are also lagging behind in testing and treatment.
“Our new advanced HIV disease policy and the role out of a simplified child friendly Antiretroviral tablet ensures early treatment and easier administration for caregivers. The introduction of triple HIV, Syphilis and Hepatitis B services for HIV exposed new-borns is an important step in ensuring every child gets a healthy start within the first 24 hours of life,” said Dr Mombeshora.
He said as Zimbabwe looks to the future, the path to HIV elimination required integrated people-centred services.
“HIV does not exist in isolation. Our health system must respond simultaneously to non-communicable diseases, mental health, Tuberculosis, sexual and reproductive health and issues of drug misuse,” said the minister.
“A person must receive holistic care at one entry point, in an efficient, dignified and supportive way. Equally important is the fight against stigma. Stigma remains the last barrier to HIV elimination, it drives silence, fear and delayed care.
“Let us speak openly, support one another and replace judgment with empathy. Zimbabwe is strongest when no one is left behind,” he said.
National Aids Council chief executive officer, Dr Bernard Madzima, said this year’s World Aids Day theme captures the environment Zimbabwe is in as far as HIV programming is concerned.
“Over the past years there have been disruptions to the HIV response threatening the achievements of the past decade and threatening our targets of ending HIV as a public health threat by 2030,” he said.
“We all remember covid-19 and the two years of 2020 to 2022 where attention and resources were shifted from HIV to deal with the pandemic.
“We have emerging health threats like NCD, drugs and substance abuse and this has meant that as the HIV programme we have had to rethink refocus and reprioritise and make sure that we integrated HIV with other health conditions, but continue to make it an entry point into health services.”
Dr Madzima said some of the financial cuts were anticipated and some happened very fast, but the country has managed to reprioritise.
“This has called for us to look at domestic resources and improve our resource mobilisation. As Zimbabwe we want to congratulate ourselves as our Government was forward thinking with the establishment of the National Aids Trust Fund, which is almost two decades old now,” he said.
“This time it has really come in a big way so that we do not run out of ARVs, laboratory diagnostics and any other HIV related activities. We are confident that our programme will not be derailed,” he said.
