HEALTH and Child Welfare minister Henry Madzorera has disclosed that government this year received $6 million from the United States government to bankroll its Voluntary Medical Male Circumcision (VMMC) and programmes aimed at scaling up Prevention of Mother-To-Child Transmission (PMTCT).
REPORT BY KUPAKWASHE MAKONYE OWN CORRESPONDENT Addressing guests attending the World Aids Day commemorations at Dulibadzimu Stadium in Beitbridge on Saturday, Madzorera said disbursement of the money had significantly reduced the country’s HIV prevalence rate.
“As a consequence of the public counselling and testing, as well as male circumcision by our parliamentarians, Zimbabwe received $6 million from the US government for scaling up PMTCT and VMMC,” Madzorera said.
“I am glad that Zimbabwe is among the very few countries to have achieved the 80% coverage mark of universal access to Aids treatment. Despite the attendant challenges, Zimbabwe now has over 520 000 people receiving ARVs out of 611 000 who urgently require them.”
Madzorera said the country would continue to pursue other HIV preventive measures.
“We have to vigorously scaled up programmes and we are targeting vulnerable groups in addressing key drivers of HIV. Although evidence has shown that long-term heterosexual unions such as the marriage institution account for the bulk of our new HIV infections, it is sad that we are yet to see specifically targeted interventions for married couples,” he said.
