Tag: PMTCT

Point of care testing helps reduce MTCT

Kuda Pembere

By Kuda Pembere Point of care testing in children helped Zimbabwe reduce Mother to child Transmission (MTCT), infant mortality and morbidity over the past two decades, Professor Lynn Zijenah an immunologist says. Nationally, MTCT in the early 2000s amidst the absence of HIV interventions was more than 30 percent till it dropped to 8 percent according to latest figures. Presenting a research at the Cepheid Booth at the ICASA 2023 conference, Prof Zijenah said in the research where 500 HIV positive pregnant women were enrolled they MTCT rate was 1.55…

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More 10 Year Old Pregnant Girls Test Positive For HIV In Zimbabwe

Michael Gwarisa

More pregnant young adolescent girls aged 10 and above, are testing positive for HIV upon booking at the Antenatal Clinic (ANC), findings from a new National Assessment on Adolescent Pregnancies in Zimbabwe have shown. By Michael Gwarisa The study was conducted by the Centre for Sexual Health and HIV AIDS Research Zimbabwe (CeSHHAR) in conjunction with the Ministry of Health and Child Care (MoHCC), UNICEF, UNESCO and UNFPA as the lead  agency for youth and adolescents. According to the report, an estimated 1,706,946 ANC bookings were made in 1,560 health…

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5 000 Zimbabwean babies infected with HIV in 2021…As mothers shun PMTCT

Kuda Pembere

Close to 5000 babies got infected with HIV in 2021 due the mothers’ reluctancy to get antiretroviral therapy during pregnancy and breastfeeding. By Kudakwashe Pembere Ministry of Health and Child Care (MoHCC) Deputy PMTCT and Paediatric HIV Care and Treatment Coordinator, Dr Precious Andifasi last Friday told journalists at a National Aids Council media training workshop in Chinhoyi that 4 750 babies got infected during pregnancy and breastfeeding.  As a program, we collect some data every year just to try and see where the new infections are coming from. So,…

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Towards an AIDS Free Generation, Nyazura Celebrates PMTCT Milestone

Michael Gwarisa

“GETTING initiated on Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) as well as registering for the Prevention of Mother to Child Transmission of HIV (PMTCT) program early has been the best decision I have ever made,” said Tracey Makoni* (27) from Nyazura, in Manicaland province during an interview with HealthTimes on a media tour that was organised by the Family AIDS Caring Trust (FACT).  Tracey has five children and even though they were born after she had already tested positive for HIV, none amongst them has HIV, thanks to the PMTCT program being offered…

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Ensuring a better future for future generations: A journey towards curbing the HIV epidemic

Healthtimes

IT is past midday and Portia* (22) arrives at a local Clinic in Filabusi, Matabeleland South, after a seven-kilometre walk from her homestead. Winter is fast approaching, and it is windy, she bends down to wipe the dust off her feet using a cloth and fixes her mask as she walks briskly towards the gate. From a distance, she sees the clinic is not as busy as she had anticipated. By Tariro Mhute and Osiah Chinemo She quickly washes her hands with the soapy water at the entrance and cheerfully…

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“We Need To Get Serious About Eliminating Mother To Child Transmission of HIV”- Dr Mushavi

Patson Gumbo

NATIONAL Prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) and Pediatric HIV Care and Treatment Coordinator in the Ministry of Health and Child Care (MoHCC), Dr Angela Mushavi says transmission of HIV from mother to child was preventable hence the need for increased efforts in order to reduce the number of children with HIV. By Patson Gumbo recently in Macheke Speaking at a media sensitisation workshop that was hosted by the National Aids Council (NAC) in Mucheke, Dr Mushavi said  even though the country had brilliant Elimination of Mother to Child Transmission of…

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Zim Readies Global Fund Proposal

Healthtimes

WITH Zimbabwe’s Global Fund Country Coordinating Mechanism (CCM) approving the proposed budget outline, the country should submit its proposal for the Global Fund grant by March 23, 2020, HealthTimes has learned. By Kudakwashe Pembere In an update for the country concept note development for the Global Fund To Fight TB, HIV and Malaria Grant 2021 to 2023 seen by this publication, the final draft should be undergoing review starting March. The writing exercise is on-going, with the country expected to submit the proposal on the 23rd March 2020, with the…

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30% HIV+ Pregnant Women Not On ART

NewsRoom

AT least 30% HIV positive pregnant women were not initiated on Anti-Retroviral Therapy (ART) in  Zimbabwe according to data collected in2017, with most cases being noted during the post delivery period, a top ministry of health Monitoring and Evaluation official has said. By Michael Gwarisa in Kadoma In an exclusive interview with HealthTimes on the side-lines of the JAPAN International Cooperation Agency (JICA) final workshop, Senior Monitoring & Evaluation Officer in the Ministry Of Health & Child Care (MoHCC) Aids & Tb Programme, Ngwarai Sithole said there was need for…

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How I Conquered HIV Stimga : The story of Vangrista Nyambuya

NewsRoom

“I have disclosed my status to my community and to my family and we are living a normal life, people have accepted us for who we are and they even remind me when I forget to take my medication…” By Daniel Phiri THERE are close to 1.3 million people living with HIV/Aids in Zimbabwe and most of them face challenges owing to stigma attached to the disease. However this stigma is based on misconceptions, myths and unverified beliefs and results in society looking down upon HIV/Aids infected people. Stigma has…

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