Tag: AHF

Rising HIV treatment failure in Zimbabwe: A stitch in time could save nine

Catherine Murombedzi

“Veld fires start from glowing ash: The numbers dismissed today as small,  can offset the gains made in the national HIV response in the near future.” By Catherine Murombedzi (Internews Health Journalism Network, Mercury Phoenix Trust HIV/AIDS 2023 Fellowship) ZIMBABWE should set aside domestic financial resources to deal with the rising number of people living with HIV (PLHIV) resistant to the treatment of first resort, commonly known as the first line treatment. Donors do not fund second and third line treatment drugs, making this a key health priority for the…

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Giliead Under Fire For Withholding PrEP Patents

Kuda Pembere

United States (US) headquartered pharmaceutical company Gilead Sciences, is being accused of engaging in inhuman practices of holding on to patents for certain lifesaving drugs, a situation that has condemned millions to new HIV infections and premature deaths. By Kudakwashe Pembere Some of the practices include ever-greening of medicine patents like Truvada which has been in use as a pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) in many countries like Zimbabwe as well as opening the license for the generic production of the hepatitis C drug Harvoni to all low- and middle-income countries. AIDS…

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International Condom Day celebrations in Highfield

Kuda Pembere

INTERNATIONAL condom day celebrations for this year are on tomorrow with the event being held in Highfield. By Kudakwashe Pembere The celebrations come at a time when condom use has been prevalent in the country preventing unwanted pregnancies and sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Put on hold on the back of the COVID-19 related restrictions meant to control the spread of the virus, the celebrations have returned following the loosening of the restrictions. They start at Lusaka Bus Terminus in Highfield, to Machipisa Shopping Centre, Gazaland Shopping Centre and will be…

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HIV self-testing proves popular …as tailor-made service improves access

Catherine Murombedzi

I have listened to people who are hesitant to get an HIV test, the moment they reach the health facility, they back off, for fear of the unknown. They have consoled themselves that, “It is better not to know, what you don’t know does not kill you.” Catherine Murombedzi How wrong it is, in health issues, what you don’t know has the potential to kill you. With many HIV infected males reporting at health facilities late, what they don’t know can be fatal. Thanks to HIV self-testing kits. For those…

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Parirenyatwa’s AHF Centre of Excellence surpasses viral load suppression target

Kuda Pembere

The Parirenyatwa Group of Hospital Opportunistic Infections clinic which is also an AIDS Health Foundation Centre of Excellence as of June 2022 had 5 620 clients with the majority being females while the pediatric ward had about 400, inversely seeing males being many. By Kudakwashe Pembere This was revealed during a media tour of the facility on Thursday. Addressing the press, Dr Pascal Shambira who heads this centre of excellence said their cohort comprised of the first, second and third line regimens of ART. “So how many patients do we…

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