Story by Providence Maraneli
BULILIMA is making significant progress in the fight against new HIV infections, with 20 healthcare facilities in the district coordinating anti-retroviral therapy adherence.
While Bulilima may be considered a HIV hotspot because of its over 17 percent prevalence rate, it might be one of the best districts administering anti-retroviral therapy in the country, amid indications that all 20 health facilities in the district are pushing adherence among patients with suppressed viral load.
Matjinge clinic is one such example where Nhlanhla Bhebhe is leading the Community Art Refill Group (CARG), which has 50 HIV patients whom she helps in ensuring adherence.
“We have committed ourselves to be open about our status and with this kind of behaviour, we think if adopted by everyone, there will be no new infection and maybe HIV will end with us,” Bhebhe said.
Open discussions on HIV and AIDS have enabled communities to fight stigmatisation and discrimination.
“This programme has helped us a lot, we are no longer afraid of stigma,” a member of CARG said.
“The CARG programme revives others who might be losing faith in ART because we are constantly engaging. The challenge remains with spousal separation, where others would not want to adhere, but we are so happy with the progress,” another noted.
CARG is one the many initiatives like Sista to Sista and Not In My Village being implemented by the National AIDS Council (NAC) in Bulilima to fight the scourge.
“With these programmes, we are seeing tremendous improvement in terms of new infections, disclosure of statuses has made the fight easy,” Bulilima District AIDS Coordinator Mr Ronald Hanyane said.
Zimbabwe has surpassed the 95:95:95 target, with 97 percent of people living with HIV aware of their status, over 95 percent on anti-retroviral therapy (ART), and 96 percent of those on ART virally suppressed.
