HIV infection rate continues to decline

The country's national HIV infection rate continues to decline on the back of increased behavioural change, the National Aids Council has revealed.

According to the recently availed NAC report covering the first nine months of last year, the HIV infection rate stood at 8,1 percent during the last quarter of 2013 as compared to 9,89 percent during the same period in 2012.

The report also highlights that an increasing number of people are getting tested for HIV with the figure increasing from 290 463 in the second quarter to 301 172.

"In this quarter 319 807 clients were offered pre-testing counselling and out of those 301 172 opted for HIV testing which is 94,2 percent. This is slightly lower as compared to the previous quarter where 96,4 percent opted for HIV testing," reads part of the report.

It further highlights that the people between the ages of 30 and 49 constituted the majority of people who tested HIV positive.
"The highest proportion of the clients who tested HIV positive was 18,2 percent among the 30 to 49 age group in quarter three while the least proportion was 4,8 percent in the 15-19 age group. The overall national positivity rate decreased from 13,6 percent to 12,7 percent.

"Generally there has been a slight drop in the HIV positivity rate for all the age groups except in the 50+ age group where there was an increase from 13,8 percent to 14,3 percent.

"The 15-19 age group continues to have the lowest HIV positivity rate which is an indication of positive impact of HIV prevention strategies among the youth.

"However this might also indicate low levels of HIV testing among the youth and better strategies might need to be put in place to increase access to HIV testing.

"There were 34 480 clients who had repeat HIV tests done in this quarter compared to 25 753 recorded in the second quarter 2013," the report states.

In his remarks accompanying the third quarter of 2013 findings, NAC chief executive Dr Tapuwa Mugure said significant progress was recorded across all thematic committees.

"The number of pregnant women who received PMTCT (prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV) services increased from 101 905 in the second quarter to 103 955 in the quarter under review," he said.

"There was a decrease in the HIV positivity rate of the pregnant women tested in ANC (ante-natal care) from 8,4 percent in the second quarter to 8,1 percent in the quarter under review. There was a decrease of male partners tested for HIV in ANC from 39 percent in the second quarter to 19 percent in the quarter under review against an annual target of 40 percent. There was a decrease in the number of people treated for new sexually transmitted infections from 71 050 in the second quarter to 69 328 recorded in this quarter. The number of clients treated for repeat STI cases increased from 11 668 in second quarter to 11 712 in third quarter.

"The number of young people exposed to HIV and AIDS education decreased from 2 621 873 in the second quarter to 2 118 677 in the third quarter of 2013. A total of 34 541 men were circumcised during the past quarter by the 3 partners (PSI, ZACH and ISP). A total of 1 960 416 person exposures were achieved in quarter 3 against a target of 1 644 000 which is 119 percent achievement.

"The ART (anti-retroviral therapy)coverage was at 66,9 percent (Adults = 68,7 percent Children =  51,9 percent) against a set target of 87 percent for adults and 62 percent for children.

The country experienced some drug stockouts in seven provinces, highlighting the need to improve the drug delivery and supply. The National AIDS Council continued to support the OI/ART outreach programmes across all the provinces and this has contributed to the increase in the number of clients receiving treatment services.