Online Reporter
Trust Freddy
Herald Correspondent
ZIMBABWE has sustained its HIV response gains, testing nearly two million people and keeping more than 1,2 million on treatment, despite major funding disruptions caused by the United States Government Stop Work Order.
The National AIDS Council (NAC) raised ZWG2,0 billion (US$76,2 million) in 2025 against a projection of ZWG4,2 billion (US$79,4 million) and a flexed budget of ZWG2,1 billion.
The AIDS Levy contributed ZWG1,8 billion (US$66,4 million) against an operational budget of ZWG3,7 billion (US$71 million).
This emerged at NAC’s 5th Annual General Meeting at Monomotapa Hotel in Harare on Monday, where Minister of Health and Child Care Dr Douglas Mombeshora received NAC’s 2025 annual report and audited financial statements.
NAC chief executive Dr Bernard Madzima said 1 922 143 clients were tested for HIV in 2025, with 99,3 percent receiving their results.
Of those, 66 617 tested positive, with 98,35 percent retested for verification. He said 1 235 467 clients are currently on antiretroviral therapy, with a viral load suppression rate of 96 percent.
“Our collective efforts remain focused on ensuring that all individuals have access to HIV prevention and treatment services to sustain the 95-95-95 targets that we already achieved,” Dr Madzima said.
He said Zimbabwe was selected as one of only 10 countries globally to introduce long-acting injectable Lenacapavir from January 2026, following the World Health Organisation’s 2025 endorsement of the drug as the first twice-yearly pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) option.
Initial rollout will prioritise pregnant and breastfeeding women to reduce mother-to-child transmission. Dr Madzima said youth programmes DREAMS and Sista2Sista continue to show promise, with NAC taking over funding of programmes disrupted by donor cuts through its Social Contracting Grant Agreements model.
Dr Mombeshora whose speech was read on his behalf by Chief Director of Public Health, Dr Celestino Dhege, commended NAC for convening the AGM in line with the Public Entities Corporate Governance Act and the Public Finance Management Act and for maintaining clean audits over the years.
“I would like to express the Ministry’s satisfaction with NAC for convening this meeting, which is in line with the Public Entities Corporate Governance Act and the Public Finance Management Act,” he said.
He said NAC’s broad mandate had resulted in an 80 percent decline in new HIV infections between 2012 and 2022 – the highest globally – with almost all people living with HIV now virtually on treatment.
The Minister praised NAC for integrating non-communicable diseases and other health emergencies into its programmes, citing its role during Covid-19 and procurement of diagnostic equipment, medicines, renal unit consumables and blood donor transfusion equipment for Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals in 2025.
He said Government will roll out similar support to other central and provincial hospitals, demonstrating NAC’s alignment with universal health coverage.
On funding, Dr Mombeshora said the US Stop Work Order was a watershed moment that taught Zimbabwe to increase domestic health financing.
“Donor funds towards HIV and other health programmes are dwindling as a result of the cessation of the US Government support.
“As a country we will guard and protect the gains achieved within HIV and health in general by making sure we efficiently and effectively utilise the available domestic resources,” he said.
He challenged NAC to continue to strengthen internal controls, ensure timely audits and uphold the highest standards of corporate governance as it pursues National Development Strategy 2 and the goal to end AIDS as a public health threat by 2030.
