By Savious Madanhire
A staggering 165,019 people in the Midlands province (among the sexually active age group (15-49) are living with HIV and Kwekwe recording the highest figures, the National Aids Council (NAC) has said.
According to 2024 HIV Estimates, with a prevalence rate of 10,94%, females are disproportionately affected, with a prevalence rate (new and old infections combined together) of 13.81% compared to males at 8.2%.
However, the Midlands Province incidence rate (new cases) was 0.21%, with males at 0.14% and females at 0.27%, respectively.
NAC Midlands Provincial Manager, Mr Mambewu Shumba in an interview emphasized the need for increased awareness and prevention efforts.
“We are still experiencing new cases, indicating a lack of protection. People should be aware of preventive methods and school children should learn to abstain.”
“The province’s mining industry attracts vendors, informal traders, truck drivers and sex workers hence making it more prone to the spreading of HIV infection.”
Kwekwe recorded the highest number of infections with Zvishavane, Shurugwi, Gweru and Mberengwa tailing behind.
Meanwhile, Gweru District HIV incidence has decreased from 0.26% to 0.21% among 15-49 years hence this decline is attributed to successful programs to reduce new infections.
Current HIV prevalence for both Gweru Urban and Rural stands at 11.31% (Males 8.12%, Female 14.45%) whereas HIV incidence is at 0.21% with males at 0.15% and Females at 0.28% respectively.
However, the estimated number of People Living with HIV for all Ages is 29252 (Males 11223 + Females 18029) while Adults (15-49 Age group) accounted for 28375 (Males 10783 + Females 17595).
“We have Workplace Wellness Programs, Peer-Led Programs, Key Populations programs, Youth programs and other biomedical interventions being implemented by the Ministry of Health and other partners.
On biomedical we are creating demand for PREP, HIV Testing and Counseling, VMMC, Condom promotion and others,” Shumba added.
Citizens embrace ARVs
Zimbabwe’s adult population has come to embrace HIV treatment. The Zimbabwe Population-based HIV Impact Assessment Survey conducted in 2020 revealed that 86.8% of adults living with HIV knew their status, and of those who were aware that they were living with HIV, 97% were receiving antiretroviral treatment.
About 1.4 million people in Zimbabwe are living with HIV, and the health ministry says that some 1.2 million Zimbabweans are on ARVs.
The huge uptake of ARVs has been the main reason for a 50% decline in the national HIV incidence over the past 10 years, according to a report from the UN Development Programme (UNDP), which works with the health ministry and the Global Fund to prevent HIV.
HIV prevalence in adults (15-49 years) has fallen from its peak of 26.5% in 1997 to 11% in 2021.
In 2022, the incidence rate of new infections was at 0.17%, and there was a decline in new HIV infections for all age groups.Meanwhile, AIDS deaths have also plummeted over the past 20 years.
In 2002, an estimated 130,000 people died of HIV-related complications whereas by 2021, the death toll was around 20,200, according to a UNICEF report.
People living with HIV wait to collect their share of free life-prolonging ARVs at Sally Mugabe Hospital in Harare.
We need peer eductors like gwapa those who teach people about hiv and aids plus we need a lot of workshops so that we will teach others about testing their selfs because a life of people dosent want test themselves
Ma dona hakasvike kuvanhu anoperera ikoko isu tisu vanhu vacho chooita iwedzere vanhu Havana ruzivo kuti zvakamira sei cz vamwe varikutotya kutestiwa izvozvi hanzi ndofa hangu