Zimbabwe Among Hardest Hit as New PEPFAR Data Shows Over 6,000 Children Lose HIV Treatment Support
By Michael Gwarisa Zimbabwe is among the countries hardest hit by recent disruptions to the United States President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), with new data released ahead of the International AIDS Society (IAS) Conference on HIV Science (AIDS 2026) showing that more than 6,000 fewer children were receiving PEPFAR-supported HIV treatment by the
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Once-Weekly HIV Pill Matches Daily Treatment in Landmark Phase III Trials Ahead of AIDS 2026
By Michael Gwarisa A once-weekly pill for HIV treatment has performed as well as standard daily therapy in two landmark Phase III clinical trials, bringing researchers a step closer to offering people living with HIV the world’s first complete once-weekly oral treatment regimen. The findings from the ISLEND-1 and ISLEND-2 studies will be presented at
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Daily Pill Burden Fuels Demand for Long-Acting HIV Prevention in Zimbabwe, Survey Finds
By Michael Gwarisa Nearly seven in ten Zimbabweans who previously used daily oral HIV prevention pills abandoned treatment because of the burden of taking medication every day, a new survey has revealed, adding fresh evidence that long-acting injectable HIV prevention could transform the country’s fight against new HIV infections. The findings come just months after
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38,000 Malawians to Receive Lenacapavir as First Shipment of HIV Prevention Doses Arrives
By Michael Gwarisa Malawi has received its first shipment of lenacapavir, a long-acting injectable HIV prevention medicine, with enough doses expected to protect 38,000 people, marking another milestone in Africa’s rollout of one of the most significant advances in HIV prevention in decades. The arrival of the first of two planned shipments positions Malawi as
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Zimbabwe Study Finds Older People Living with HIV Face Hidden Bone Loss, Women at Greatest Risk
By Michael Gwarisa A groundbreaking Zimbabwean study has revealed that older people living with HIV have significantly poorer bone health than their HIV-negative peers, with women facing an even greater risk of developing osteoporosis and suffering debilitating fractures as they age. Published in the Journal of Bone and Mineral Research, the study found that HIV
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Inside Khami Prison: The Inmate Called “The Headmaster” Transforming Education Behind Bars
By Kuda Pembere As he walks into the classroom, the room falls silent. A silence that settles whenever a figure of authority steps into the space. Rows of inmates sit shoulder to shoulder, carefully writing letters and numbers into neatly covered exercise books. The room is bright, orderly and filled with focus. One young inmate
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Bulawayo Records Strong Uptake of Voluntary Medical Male Circumcision
Kuda Pembere in Bulawayo Bulawayo Metropolitan Province recorded strong uptake of Voluntary Medical Male Circumcision (VMMC) in 2024, with the highest coverage achieved among males aged 25 to 29 and 15 to 19 years, according to the National AIDS Council (NAC). VMMC remains one of Zimbabwe’s key HIV prevention strategies, with studies showing that medical
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Teenagers Driving Rise in STI Cases in Bulawayo District, Says NAC
Kuda Pembere in Bulawayo A rise in sexually transmitted infections (STIs) among young people aged between 10 and 24 years is prompting the National AIDS Council (NAC) to intensify HIV prevention programmes in Magwegwe District, one of Bulawayo’s areas with identified HIV hotspots. For NAC programming purposes, Magwegwe District encompasses Magwegwe, Pumula and Lobengula suburbs
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DREAMS Legacy Lives On at Mawaba Primary School
Kuda Pembere in Bulawayo Mawaba Primary School says it is determined to preserve the gains achieved through the DREAMS programme, including a dramatic reduction in child sexual abuse cases, despite the suspension of funding for the initiative. School authorities say the programme helped establish a Gender-Based Violence (GBV) room and strengthened child protection systems, contributing
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Zimbabwe Targets 46,000 Lenacapavir Users As Demand For HIV Prevention Injection Grows
Michael Gwarisa Zimbabwe is set to significantly expand access to Lenacapavir, the long-acting injectable HIV prevention drug, after securing additional financial support from the Global Fund through the United States Department of State, a development expected to strengthen HIV prevention efforts among high-risk populations. The new support will see an additional 43,000 doses added to
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