By Nyasha Kunyiswa
NEW HIV infections remain high among the youth despite the country doing a lot to end these infections by 2030, the National Aids Council (Nac) has said.
Speaking in Harare yesterday, during a Young People’s Network Conference, Nac Harare Province manager, Adonijah Muzondiona, said those aged between 10 and 24 years were currently the most affected in this regard.
This comes as Zimbabwe has achieved the United Nations Programme on HIV/Aids’ 95-95- 95 percent target to end any new infections of HIV by 2030.
The programme’s aim is to diagnose 95 percent of all HIVpositive individuals, provide anti-retroviral therapy (ART) for 95 percent of those diagnosed, and achieve viral suppression for 95 percent of those treated by 2030. Muzondiona said Nac was intensifying its efforts to raise awareness on new HIV infections in the country targeted at the youth.
“HIV/Aids new infections are still high in youth aged 10 to 24 years in the country. We are engaging youth from various sectors across the country, imparting knowledge about the disease,” he said.
“According to the latest report, the Zimbabwe demographic survey observed that new infections are high among young girls and boys. “We are targeting that age group across that country which will help to stop new HIV/Aids infections.
“Statistics also show that among those from 15 to 49, we are at 11 percent for new infections. In terms of people living with HIV/Aids within Harare Province, we are around 10 to 15 percent and young people with HIV are around 10 percent. “We are doing relatively well in programmes such as HIV testing and counselling,” Muzondiona added.
He said Harare being the biggest industrial hub in the country, Nac was also engaging informal sector players to help in identifying young people working in that sector and raising HIV/Aids awareness campaigns among them.
“We need each and every youth in the country to access services on HIV/Aids, which helps to save lives as we put them on treatment early. “Young people with HIV/Aids are still facing different challenges in the country which include abuse, stigma among others,” Muzondiona said.