Trust Freddy, Zimpapers Correspondent
THE visiting Tanzanian delegation has been impressed by how Zimbabwe is integrating and subsidising health services, particularly the incorporation of Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) into HIV and TB care.
The team from Tanzania’s AIDS Trust Fund (ATF) is in the country on a week-long benchmarking visit to study Zimbabwe’s domestic health financing through the AIDS Levy.
It is led by Board Chairperson Mr Sabasaba Mwoshingi and Tanzania AIDS Commission Executive Director Dr Adam Mrisho, who is also ATF Board Secretary.
After touring the renal unit and blood bank at Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals, which the National AIDS Council upgraded at a cost of over US$2 million, and a mobile clinic in Epworth, Dr Mrisho said Zimbabwe had set an example.
“Today we toured one of the central hospitals where we saw the installations and operations of the renal unit.
“We congratulate NAC Zimbabwe for such a remarkable gesture,” he said.
He said as people living with HIV live longer on treatment in the SADC region, integration of hypertension, diabetes, renal disease and cancers such as cervical cancer into HIV care had become critical.
“Renal disease is a very serious disease that needs someone to really go through a lot. By having that facility at the central hospital, it really saves a number of people, not only people living with HIV but also the general community,” Dr Mrisho said.
What impressed the delegation most, he said, was that Zimbabwe is offering renal services free of charge.
“This is free of charge, which is different from most SADC countries. This gives a good example of proper use of the AIDS Levy fund. It is something we can try to replicate in other parts of the world,” he said.
At Epworth Overspill, the delegation visited a mobile clinic run in partnership with ZimbosAbantu Healthcare on Wheels where NAC supports integrated SRH, NCD and HIV services.
“It is very promising to see that services are brought to the community. It saves the community through integrated SRH, NCDs and HIV services,” he said.
Dr Mrisho said the Zimbabwean model demonstrates the 2025 World AIDS Day theme in practice.
“Ending AIDS starts with access. That is very key and we have seen it in a practical way here in Zimbabwe.
“Congratulations to NAC Zimbabwe and the Government of Zimbabwe for making sure all these essential services are accessed by all communities.”
