BY NYASHA KUNYISWA
LAWMAKERS have been called on to partner with the National Aids Council (Nac) and other stakeholders in leading their local communities in the HIV/Aids fight.
Speaking in Harare at an HIV/Aids sensitisation workshop for MPs, Speaker of the National Assembly Jacob Mudenda on Friday said by participating in the epidemic’s control in their communities, parliamentarians would be more informed on what is needed to drive meaningful changes in combating HIV/Aids in the country.
“Parliamentarians must partner with Nac and other organisations in leading communities in HIV/ Aids epidemic control as this will help the country to end new HIV infections by 2030.
“It is through platforms like these capacity building workshops that we can renew our commitment and equip ourselves to respond effectively to evolving dynamics of HIV epidemic control,” he said.
“As a nation, we have made a significant progress particularly in achieving the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/Aids (UNAids) 95-95-95 target which denotes that 95 percent of people know their status, 95 percent of people with HIV are on treatment and 95 percent their viral load is suppressed,” he said.
Mudenda also applauded the work done by community health workers in demystifying HIV/Aids, promoting voluntary testing, treatment and counselling.
“The support by community health workers act as a bridge between the health care system and the community. “There is a deficit of 16 000 village health workers against a target of 30 000, according to Zimbabwe Health Work Investment Compact 2024 to 2026.
“Zimbabwe is currently facing a shortage of 57 573 health professionals and President Emmerson Mnangagwa is putting in place effective skills retention measures to contain the situation,” he said.
The speaker added that according to the Zimbabwe National AIDS Assessment, at least US$378 million was set aside this year for HIV/Aids programming. This is an increase of US$100 million from the US$278 million that was availed last year mostly to development aid partners.
“This current funding still falls short of the estimated US$500 million needed annually to achieve the ambitious goal of Zimbabwe National HIV/Aids strategic plan…. “A strong and effective HIV response requires not only financial resources, but also a robust governance framework. This governance is rooted in the ministry of Health which plays a pivotal role in the health care delivery system,” he said.
On his part, Nac chief executive Bernard Madzima said robust strategies being implemented by the authorities and development partners has produced positive results and Zimbabwe was now viewed as the “best country in HIV/Aids epidemic control”
