Source: ‘Continue to raise HIV/Aids awareness, prevention’ | The Herald
Address by President Mnangagwa at the commemoration of World Aids Day
Fellow countrymen; ladies and gentlemen; comrades and friends.
It is my singular honour to address the Nation on the World AIDS Day, as we join the world in commemorating this day, set aside to galvanise our collective efforts to end HIV/AIDS by 2030.
We also remember those who succumbed to HIV and AIDS in our country and throughout the world.
On the 1st of December we thus, re-commit to create an enabling environment for the pursuit of HIV prevention, treatment, care and support.
As a nation, let us continue to raise awareness on the existence of the pandemic, and equally seek to utilise HIV prevention and treatment services, which are available throughout the country.
This year’s commemorations are occurring when we are emerging from challenging times associated with the negative effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, which are compounded by climate change as well as the deleterious effects of illegal sanctions.
The focused and robust response by the health sector and stakeholders on HIV/AIDS is commendable. This has seen our country achieve the current 95-95-95 targets well ahead of the 2025 target date.
The theme of this year’s commemorations “EQUALISE”, resonates with my Administration’s quest of implementing multi-pronged development programmes, projects and policy interventions that leave no one and no place behind.
Locally, our theme: “Access, Empowerment, Inclusivity, Opportunities and the Upholding of human rights,” highlights our focus towards a holistic approach to tackling the HIV/AIDS scourge.
As a country, we are committed to addressing inequalities related to access, control and utilisation of HIV related services.
These include increasing the availability of quality and suitable services for HIV prevention and treatment. Stigma, discrimination and exclusion of people living with HIV, have no place in our society.
Hence, laws and policies to end all forms of discrimination are continuously refined.
Earlier this year, our Parliament repealed Section 79 of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act, which criminalised HIV transmission.
The repeal was in response to evidence that the criminalisation of HIV transmission was discriminatory and discouraged people from getting tested for HIV, therefore, fuelling stigma, marginalisation and limiting access to treatment.
It is encouraging that the prevalence rate continues to decline, with new infections dropping from 31 600 in 2018 to 22 800 in 2021.
Relatedly, the number of people dying from HIV/AIDS dropped from 25 200 to 20 200 during the same period. We are not yet where we want to be, more work must be done.
It is our collective responsibility, right from the family level and across all sectors, to deal with specific HIV infection drivers.
Child marriages, violence against women and other culture-driven practices that put men, women and children at risk and drive new infections, must be decisively tackled. The involvement of men in HIV programmes must be scaled up.
As a nation, let us never shy away from enforcing and nurturing high moral standards and value systems across the society, beginning with us the adults, down to our children and the youths.
Meanwhile, robust strategies must continue to be rolled out to ensure that more people on treatment have suppressed viral load.
This should be our focus into the future, as suppression of the virus remains fundamental in epidemic control.
Fellow countrymen and women; The National AIDS Trust Fund remains a key pillar of the funding architecture of our response to HIV and AIDS programming. I want to commend our global partners for complementing my Government’s efforts in the fight against HIV/AIDS, TB and Malaria.
Zimbabwe is the first country in Africa, and third in the world, to approve the roll-out of the long-acting injectable cabo-te-gravir (CAB-LA). This will undoubtedly augment and boost our current HIV prevention and treatment measures.
To date, it is noteworthy that more than 98 percent of people who know their HIV status are now on treatment.
It is, however, regrettable that the associated Non-Communicable Diseases, with strong association to HIV, are now reaching epidemic levels.
Our fight must, thus, equally focus on cancer, heart diseases, strokes, diabetes and metabolic complications, kidney ailments, liver diseases, and mental health issues, among other ailments. I, call upon the nation to get screened for these diseases and seek early treatment.
On the part of Government, efforts have been heightened to reform and modernise our health infrastructure and overall health delivery systems, towards guaranteeing access to quality and affordable health care by all our people.
This has seen increased budgetary support as well as training and hiring of more health service practitioners.
In recognition of the Second Republic’s Engagement and Re-engagement Policy, Zimbabwe won the bid to host the 2023 International Conference on AIDS and STIs in Africa.
We will leverage this conference to sharpen and re-invigorate our national responses to HIV/AIDS.
The conference has enormous economic potential for tourism, Creative Cultural Industries, transport and financial service sectors, among others.
I urge our business and industry to begin now to prepare our country to host a successful event.
As I conclude, I once again express my profound gratitude to all stakeholders, partners and the nation at large, for the commitment, dedication and unity of purpose in the fight of this HIV/AIDS scourge.
Together we can “Equalise” and enhance “Access, Empowerment, Inclusivity and Opportunities” in pursuit of ending HIV/AIDS by 2030.
I wish you all successful commemorations of the 2022 World AIDS Day.
God bless you all.
God bless Zimbabwe.
I thank you.
‘Continue to raise HIV/Aids awareness, prevention’
Source: ‘Continue to raise HIV/Aids awareness, prevention’ | The Herald President Mnangagwa said it is noteworthy that more than 98 percent of people who know their HIV status are now on treatment. – File Picture Address by President Mnangagwa at the commemoration of World Aids Day Fellow countrymen; ladies and gentlemen; comrades and friends. It […]
