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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First Possible HIV Cure Reported in Canada After Bone Marrow Transplant
Michael Gwarisa Canada has recorded its first possible HIV cure in a 62-year-old man who has remained in sustained remission following a bone marrow transplant, according to a report from the University of Toronto. The case, known as the “Toronto patient,” was developed through a collaboration between clinicians and researchers at University Health Network, Unity
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Mozambique Rolls Out Lenacapavir for HIV Prevention
Michael Gwarisa Mozambique yesterday joined other African countries that have introduced and added Lenacapavir, a long-acting injectable HIV prevention drug, into their biomedical prevention methods. Other countries that have introduced the HIV prevention drug include Eswatini, Kenya, Lesotho, Nigeria, South Africa, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. In Mozambique, the official launch was hosted at the
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PEPFAR, Global Fund Expand Lenacapavir Access to Reach 3 Million in HIV Prevention Push
Michael Gwarisa Global efforts to scale up access to a groundbreaking HIV prevention injection have received a major boost after PEPFAR and The Global Fund announced additional investment in Gilead Sciences’ long-acting drug, lenacapavir, with the aim of expanding protection to millions at risk. The new commitment will support access for up to an additional
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Leaked Memo Shows U.S. May Cut HIV Aid to Zambia to Secure Mineral Access
Michael Gwarisa A report in The New York Times reveals that the U.S. State Department is considering a significant reduction in health assistance to Zambia as a negotiating tool to gain greater access to the country’s critical minerals. According to The New York Times, a draft memo prepared for Secretary of State Marco Rubio suggests
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Rare HIV ‘Breakthrough’ Cases Reported in Lenacapavir PrEP Trials Across Africa
Michael Gwarisa As more African countries begin to introduce lenacapavir into their HIV prevention programmes, scientists are examining new data showing that a small number of people became infected with HIV while using the medication. The drug’s rollout now extends beyond just one or two nations. Countries that have started distributing the twice-yearly injectable or
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South Africa Urged to Secure Better Lenacapavir License Terms With Gilead Before Local Manufacturing
Michael Gwarisa Doctors Without Borders (MSF) has urged South Africa not to rush into local manufacturing of lenacapavir, an injectable HIV prevention drug, without first negotiating stronger, more equitable license terms or using a compulsory license to bypass patent restrictions. Their call follows a recent announcement by the South African government that it is negotiating
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