Mutare — Apostolic church leaders have agreed to have their members tested for HIV and Aids and other sexually transmitted infections as the country moves to combat the pandemic.
by Thabani Dube Union for Development of the Apostolic Churches in Zimbabwe (Udaciza), an umbrella body representing apostolic groups, has embraced a government-funded Zimbabwe Population-Based HIV Impact Assessment (Zimphia), which seeks to assess how far the country has gone in dealing with HIV and Aids.
Udaciza secretary-general Reverend Edison Tsvakai said members under his organisation had agreed to take part in the survey which would see people voluntarily being tested for HIV and Aids.
“For long, the Vapostori have endured discrimination and name-calling at the hands of the mainstream church believers working in the media and health service delivery systems, something that has been pushing some of our members to shy away,” said Tsvakai recently.
About 30 000 adults and children are expected to be tested for both HIV and syphilis.
Zimphia’s primary goal is to estimate HIV incidence (new HIV infections) at a national level, and provincial prevalence of suppressed HIV viral load in both adults and pediatrics.
The Ministry of Health and Child Care’s strategic information co-ordinator, Dr Mutsa Mhangara, said Zimphia also offers syphilis services in people’s homes.
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The survey started in October 2015 and is expected to end in April 2016.
