By Michael Gwarisa
As Zimbabwe grapples with persistently high levels of stigma against people living with HIV (PLHIV), the media has been called upon to champion responsible, inclusive, and stigma-free reporting to support national HIV response efforts.
Despite international targets urging countries to reduce HIV-related stigma to below 5% by 2025, Zimbabwe’s HIV Stigma Index tells a troubling story. According to the latest data, stigma currently affects nearly 70% of PLHIV and other key and vulnerable populations in Zimbabwe—an increase from 65.5% in 2014.
Speaking at a media engagement breakfast hosted by the Zimbabwe National Network of People Living with HIV (ZNNP+) through support from AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) in Harare, Health and Child Care Minister Dr. Douglas Mombeshora said the media plays a pivotal role in combating stigma. He emphasized that stigma and discrimination remain some of the most persistent barriers to ending HIV, leading to fear, silence, and avoidance of essential services like testing and treatment.
Discrimination in families, communities, healthcare settings, and workplaces continues to create fear and silence, making it harder to control the spread of HIV,” Dr. Mombeshora said. He noted that internalized stigma contributes to shame, isolation, and depression—factors that push people away from accessing care.
He called on journalists to humanize the epidemic by telling real-life stories and providing factual information about HIV transmission, antiretroviral therapy (ART), and preventive measures like pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP). “No one should feel shame for living with a health condition,” he added.
While Zimbabwe has achieved considerable progress—96% of the estimated 1.3 million people living with HIV are on treatment—the minister warned that the fight is far from over. Between January and June 2025, the country recorded 5,932 AIDS-related deaths, up from 5,712 in the same period in 2024.
Although the rise in deaths has not been directly linked to funding cuts, Dr. Mombeshora acknowledged growing pressure on domestic resources. Zimbabwe’s HIV response is now largely financed through taxes on alcohol, tobacco, sugary beverages, and the national AIDS levy.
Despite these challenges, he commended the Zimbabwe National Network of People Living with HIV (ZNNP+) for its peer-led programs in treatment literacy, stigma reduction, and psychosocial support. He described the organization as a valuable ally to the Ministry of Health.
Mr Tonderai Mwareka, ZNNP+ Stigma Index Coordinator, highlighted disturbing findings from their 2022 report. “Stigma increased from 65.5% in 2014 to 69.7% in 2022. This is going in the wrong direction,” he said. The data shows that men, more than women, struggle to disclose their HIV status, which can increase the risk of transmission to partners. Meanwhile, many women hide their status, leading to treatment defaulting and adverse health outcomes.
Chisoro added that fear of being seen taking medication leads some to skip doses, resulting in weakened immune systems, opportunistic infections, and even death.
Dr. Cloreta Gwanzura, National HIV and AIDS Strategic Plan Coordinator, stressed the importance of strengthening Zimbabwe’s efforts toward eliminating mother-to-child transmission of HIV, syphilis, and hepatitis B. “These three infections, all sexually transmitted, can cause severe maternal and child health issues if left untreated,” she said. She emphasized that early antenatal booking and timely ART initiation during pregnancy are crucial to preventing transmission.
She also noted key gaps, including low antenatal care coverage, low PrEP uptake among pregnant women, and delays in HIV retesting and case investigations. “Most mother-to-child transmissions occur when pregnant women do not receive ART on time,” said Dr. Gwanzura, calling for expanded hepatitis B testing and prophylaxis.
Meanwhile, Clever Taderea of AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) reiterated the central role the media must play. “Media are a key tool in the HIV response, and their contribution to ending stigma cannot be overemphasized,” he said.
To support ethical and informed reporting, the Health Ministry pledged to continue working with journalists through trainings, field visits, and technical briefings. The goal, Dr. Mombeshora said, is to ensure media professionals are equipped to tell HIV stories with accuracy, empathy, and impact.
