Tag: ARVs

#Breaking: Donors About To Pull The Plug On Condom Funding In Zimbabwe

Michael Gwarisa

By Michael Gwarisa One of the major funders for HIV and AIDS programs in Zimbabwe, the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), has notified the Zimbabwean government that it will terminate funding for condom programming within the next 30 months, HealthTimes has learnt. Popularly known as Madhimbare mainly because of their blue and white packaging, public sector condoms serve the biggest number of condom users in Zimbabwe especially those at high risk of HIV infection mainly Female Sex Workers (FSW), Artisanal Miners, Truck Drivers among other HIV key…

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Supporting HIV services for flood survivors in KwaZulu-Natal

Healthtimes

Since floods killed 440 people and left many thousands more homeless last week in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN), South Africa, UNAIDS has been working with communities, civil society and government leaders to respond. Own Correspondent Together with the UN system in South Africa, donors and other partners, UNAIDS has been urgently evaluating the needs of thousands of people living with HIV who were directly impacted by the flash flooding. Swollen rivers and landslides damaged more than 600 schools and 66 health care facilities, while many homes have been left without running water…

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After Falling Off The Radar, Orphaned HIV Positive Boy Develops High Viral Load

Michael Gwarisa

A few minutes after bringing her son into this world, Simba Ncube’s* mother lost her life to AIDS related complications in 2010. Luckily before she died, Simba’s mother had registered her cousin sister, Ms Pride Ncube* as the next of kin and guardian to her child. On the fateful day, the hospital called Ms Ncube informing her that her sister had died and had indicated that she wanted her to raise her child. By Michael Gwarisa in Mutare However, a family feud ensued shortly afterwards with Simba’s maternal grandparents demanding…

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800 000 Children Living With HIV Not On ARVs Therapy

Healthtimes

New HIV infections among children declined by more than half (54%) from 2010 to 2020, due mainly to the increased provision of antiretroviral therapy to pregnant and breastfeeding women living with HIV. However, that momentum has slowed considerably, leaving particularly large gaps in western and central Africa, which is home to more than half of pregnant women living with HIV who are not on treatment. Gaps in the testing of infants and children exposed to HIV have left more than two fifths of children living with HIV undiagnosed. The number…

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Zim To Introduce HIV Prevention Drug Thats Taken Once Every Month

Patricia Mashiri
Dr Nyaradzo Mgodi MBChB, MMed, Investigator of Record, HPTN-084 Zimbabwe – University of Zimbabwe College of Health Sciences Clinical Trials Research Centre, and HPTN Executive Committee Member

ZIMBABWE is among the first countries set to introduce a new HIV preventative drug that will be taken once a month in a move that is likely to expand HIV prevention options for citizens. By Patricia Mashiri The new drug, Islatravir (MK-8591) belongs to a class of drugs called First-in-Class Nucleoside Reverse Transcriptase Translocation Inhibitor (NRTTI) With Multiple Mechanisms of Action. These multiple mechanisms of action contribute to its high potency against HIV-1 and drug-resistant variants, and its high barrier to resistance. Dr Nyaradzo Mgodi, Principal Investigator, University of Zimbabwe’s…

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Capacitate Local Pharmaceutical Companies To Manufacture ARVs, Gvt Told

Patricia Mashiri

THE Zimbabwe National Network of People Living With HIV (ZNNP+), has called on government to ensure local drugs manufacturing companies are fully resourced and equipped to manufacture life saving Antiretroviral medicines. By Patricia Mashiri Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) championing HIV and AIDS issues in the recent years petitioned parliament to ensure uninterrupted availability of ARV drugs following reports of recurrent stock-outs and drugs unavailability. Speaking  at the National Dialogue on the Manufacturing of Medicines in Zimbabwe, Deputy Health and Child Care Minister, Dr John Mangwiro said government was committed to…

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Briefcase HIV Organizations Causing Havoc In HIV Coordination Says NAC

Michael Gwarisa

THE National Aids Council (NAC) has vowed to restore sanity in the HIV response sector by capacitating the Zimbabwe Nationwide Network of People Living with HIV (ZNNP+) which was mandated at the initial stages of the HIV pandemic in Zimbabwe to coordinate community participation and involvement in the HIV response. By Michael Gwarisa Speaking to HealthTimes in an interview, NAC Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Dr Bernard Madzima said currently there was chaos in the HIV response at the back of mushrooming organisations purporting to be representing the PLHIV community. ZNNP+…

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#BREAKING: Some Of The Children Who Were Taken From Mt Hampden Shelter By Police Are Living With HIV & Might Have Missed Today’s Dosage ARVs

Healthtimes

AT least three children from the 46  who were whisked away by the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) and the social welfare team yesterday from a home in Mt Hampden to a yet to be identified location in Kadoma, are living with HIV and are feared to have missed their Antiretroviral (ARVs) medicines. Voice of Kiri Madamombe Activist Mubatiranwa Trust  Click Here To Listen To Interview    

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#COVID-19: ARVs Cost Could Go Up- UNAIDS Warns

NewsRoom

THE COVID-19 could affect the availability, cost and distribution of antiretroviral (ARVs) medicines  in low- and middle-income countries around the world, a new UNAIDS study has revealed. HealthTimes Reporter According the study, the impact on production and logistics caused by COVID-19 could have a significant effect on antiretroviral therapy supply worldwide, but steps taken now could lessen the damage done. The UNAIDS survey discovered that the lockdowns and border closures imposed to stop COVID-19 are impacting both the production of medicines and their distribution, potentially leading to increases in their…

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Stock Up More ARVs To Combat Coronavirus- Gvt Told

Michael Gwarisa

THE Community Working Group on Health (CWGH) Executive Director, Mr Itai Rusike has urged government to mobilse enough financial resources to procure Kaletra, an Antiretroviral (ARV) drug that has proven effective in treating Coronavirus (COVID-19) as part of its preparedness to deal with the deadly bug. By Michael Gwarisa The disease has hit at least 70 countries, with 90,000 cases and 3,100 deaths. The vast majority of cases and deaths have been in China. While the number of new cases recorded daily in that epicenter country has declined for weeks,…

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