HIV infections could jump over 6 times if US support is dropped and not replaced, UNAIDS chief says

The head of the U.N. AIDS agency said Monday the number of new HIV infections could jump more than six times by 2029 if American support of the biggest AIDS program is dropped, warning that millions of people could die and more resistant strains of the disease could emerge. In an interview with The Associated Press, UNAIDS Executive Director Winnie Byanyima said HIV infections have been falling in recent years, with just 1.3 million new cases recorded in 2023, a 60% decline since the virus peaked in 1995. But since…

Read More

PSH Works to Restore HIV Services At All New Start Centres

By Kuda Pembere Population Solutions for Health (PSH) is working tirelessly to resume HIV services previously offered at New Start Centres, following a funding review initiated by the U.S. State Department under the administration of former President Donald Trump. The closure of New Start Centres is part of PSH’s compliance with the U.S. government directive. However, a waiver on health-related funding was later introduced to prevent the collapse of Africa’s under-resourced health systems. In an interview, PSH executive director Dr. Noah Taruberekera stated that while he could not comment on…

Read More

Critical Gaps in Vital Monitoring Threaten Care Outcomes In Those Ageing With HIV In Zimbabwe

By Michael Gwarisa For 21 years, Martha Tholanah (60) has lived with HIV. She has experienced it all, from the days when an HIV diagnosis was a death sentence to today, when people living with HIV can lead healthy, fulfilling lives. Testing positive on January 3, 2003, Martha recalls her heartbreak when health workers informed her that her CD4 count was below 200. I had fallen sick and had to get tested. I had also just been accepted for a new job, so I needed to know where I stood.…

Read More

Meet Dr. Dhodho: The Once Sickly Village Boy Who Transformed Rural Zimbabwe’s HIV Response

By Michael Gwarisa He wears many hats. Dr. Efison Dhodho is currently the Knowledge Manager for the Zimbabwe College of Public Health Physicians, a dedicated researcher, and the Director for Strategic Information, Evaluation, Learning, and Information Technology Systems at the Organization for Public Health Interventions and Development (OPHID). Born into a family of 13 as the fifth child, Dr. Dhodho recalls how his fragile health as a child necessitated moving to live with his mother, a rural nurse in Mwenezi District, while his siblings stayed with their father, a teacher.…

Read More

Renowned Health Journalist Rumbidzai Zinyuke Appointed to National AIDS Council Board

By Michael Gwarisa Seasoned health journalist and the current senior health reporter at The Herald, Rumbidzai Zinyuke, has been appointed to the National AIDS Council (NAC) board. Zinyuke will represent the media on the board, bringing her expertise to the national fight against HIV and AIDS. Commenting on her appointment, Zinyuke said, “I am honored to be appointed as a board member representing the media on the National AIDS Council board. The media plays a critical role in the fight against HIV and AIDS, not only in raising awareness about…

Read More

Second Woman May Be Cured of HIV After Stem Cell Transplant

By Liz Highleyman An eighth person appears to be cured of HIV after receiving a stem cell transplant for cancer treatment, according to a case report presented at the HIV Drug Therapy meeting in Glasgow. The woman, who was treated in France, received a stem cell transplant for leukemia in July 2020 from a donor with a rare mutation that prevents the virus from entering cells. Although she stopped antiretroviral treatment a year ago, she has not yet experienced viral rebound. The risky transplant procedure is only appropriate for HIV-positive…

Read More

US Ambassador lauds Marondera Provincial Hospital’s fight against HIV

By Kuda Pembere in Marondera The US Ambassador to Zimbabwe Pamela Tremont has commended health workers at Marondera Provincial Hospital for their tenacity and resolve to control the HIV epidemic in the province. She said this during her tour of the hospital where she met with the staff as well as some of the beneficiaries of HIV services. The US Government through the Presidential Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) and the Centre for Disease Control has been supporting Zimbabwe’s HIV response since 2006 putting the country on the brink…

Read More

To end AIDS, protect everyone’s human rights – UNAIDS

By Mr Henry Damisoni The world has made enormous progress in reducing the impact of HIV over the last 15 years. Globally, a total of 30.7 million people—77% of those living with HIV—were on treatment in 2023, up from just 7.7 million in 2010. This has resulted in a dramatic decline in AIDS-related deaths, down by 51% over the same period. In Zimbabwe, 95% of the 1.3 million people living with HIV were on treatment in 2023. Treatment coverage increased by 40% from 55% in 2010. The country surpassed the…

Read More

Zimbabwe’s INTEGRATE Program Marks Milestone: Over 150,000 Circumcisions Achieved in HIV Prevention Push

By Michael Gwarisa Over 150,000 men and boys have undergone circumcision under the INTEGRATE-Catalyzing Integrated Sustainable Subnational HIV Biomedical Prevention Program, an initiative aimed at enhancing decentralized biomedical HIV prevention services in Zimbabwe. The program, implemented by the Ministry of Health and Child Care (MoHCC) with technical support from Population Services International (PSI) and Population Solutions for Health (PSH), was catalyzed by funding from the Gates Foundation. Launched in November 2020, the INTEGRATE project was designed to run for four years and is set to conclude by the end of…

Read More

MSF Secures CAB LA Doses For Zimbabwe and Three Other African Countries

By Michael Gwarisa Doctors Without Borders (MSF) has secured a limited supply of long-acting injectable cabotegravir (CAB-LA), a groundbreaking HIV prevention medication, following months of negotiations with Viiv, its sole manufacturer. The initial rollout is set to begin later this year in Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Malawi, and Eswatini. To prepare for this rollout, MSF conducted a four-day training workshop for clinicians, nurses, and future implementers. The training aimed to build capacity among healthcare workers to effectively administer CAB-LA and integrate it into HIV prevention efforts. Dr. Gerald Hangaika, from MSF’s Mbare…

Read More