HIV prevalence rate high among widows, widowers

MORE than half of widowed women and men in Zimbabwe are HIV positive, a study has revealed.

Ward 4 Councillor Silas Chigora on Wednesday told participants at the belated Bulawayo provincial World Aids Day commemorations that statistics showed a high prevalence rate in the two groups of people.

"Findings of the 2010-11 Zimbabwe Demographic and Health Survey (ZDHS), which was implemented by the Zimbabwe National Statistics Agency (Zimstat) indicate that more than half of widowed women and men are HIV-positive and about 30 percent of divorced or separated women and men are infected with the virus," said Clr Chigora.

He said the survey showed HIV prevalence was particularly high among widows and those who are divorced or separated.

Clr Chigora said the infection rate for people aged between 15 and 49 years in Bulawayo is 19 percent.

"We're also proud as Zimbabwe to be among the leading countries that have consistently recorded declines in both the HIV incidence and prevalence over the years.

"While the new cases of HIV have continued to decline, they're still unacceptably high and as such everyone has to take behaviour change programmes seriously," he said.

The councillor said the Aids Levy introduced by the government in 1999 had helped in the fight against HIV/Aids.

"The levy has now grown to become the second largest funder of the antiretroviral therapy programme, supporting over 25 percent of all people on treatment and also funding various HIV prevention interventions. I'm happy that the levy has already started to support the diagnosis and treatment for emerging related conditions such as tuberculosis and cancer in view of their co-infection with HIV," said Clr Chigora.

He said the government through the National Aids Council had also introduced a new cost saving initiative meant to save and recover costs in the antiretroviral therapy procurement chain.

"Since the start of the initiative earlier this year, we've already recovered close to a million dollars, which we're going to plough back in the procurement  chain.

"This initiative has also led to the reduction in the price of anti-retroviral medicines in the private sector participating pharmacies from over $55,00 to $17,00 a month for people on medical aid," said Clr Chigora.

Councillor Chigora acknowledged effects of illegal sanctions as one of the challenges that had hampered the fight against HIV/Aids.

"My country has suffered under the yoke of illegal economic and social sanctions imposed by the Western powers. This has severely battered our economy, although signs of recovery are pleasing, driven by our economic and transformation blueprint, Zim-Asset," said the councillor.

Chigora appealed to the Bulawayo community to continue strengthening the spirit of unity and integration in confronting HIV and Aids, which he said continued to wreak havoc across the city.