HIV, Aids deaths drop

The number of people dying from HIV and Aids-related illnesses has significantly dropped from a high of 170 000 in 2003 to about 60 000 last year, a development attributed to Government programmes of effectively administering anti-retroviral therapy.

The numbers include both adults and children, The Herald reported.

According to a preliminary report of the 2013 HIV estimates presented to various Aids stakeholders in Harare yesterday, the number of adults who died in 2013 has gone down from 50 230 in 2012 to 49 605 in 2013.

The number of deaths among children between 0 and 14 years has also gone down from about 36 000 (2003 statistics) to 10 795 in 2013.

In 2012, 12 004 child deaths  were recorded.

Presenting the 2013 preliminary report, Ministry of Health and Child Care strategic information co-ordinator for the Aids and TB Unit Dr Mutsa Mhangara said the number of people living with HIV seems to have stabilised and stands at 14,4 percent.

Last year, the prevalence rate was 14,5 percent.

Dr Mhangara said the number of people getting infected had also decreased from 1,18 percent in 2012 to 1,05 percent in 2013.

"Although this is a preliminary report, indications are that the number of people living with HIV and Aids in the country is stabilising as many people living with the virus are now surviving longer, while the number of people getting infected continues to drop," he said.

Dr Mhangara attributed the decreases to various efforts being implemented, which include a successful anti-retroviral programme for both adults and children.

He said although the figures were yet to be validated, indications were that Zimbabwe was doing well in terms of response to HIV.

"These figures are an indication that we are on track in achieving some of our HIV targets even though they still have to undergo validation," said Dr Mhangara.

He expressed concern over the rising cases of sexually transmitted diseases, saying they might threaten the gains the country has made so far in the fight against HIV and Aids.

Instead of producing the estimates after every two years, Government was now coming up with the reports on an annual basis to effectively monitor progress ahead of the 2015 global targets.

Dr Mhangara said the final report of the HIV estimates is expected early next month after submission to the United Nations.

Speaking at the same occasion, National Aids Council monitoring and evaluation director Mr Amon Mpofu said following consultations with various stakeholders, NAC will submit the report to the UNAIDS by end of this month.

He urged all stakeholders in HIV and Aids to rally behind NAC to ensure Zimbabwe submitted a document reflecting the exact picture of HIV and Aids status in the country.

"We hope to get contributions from our stakeholders so that together we come up with a document that truly reflects the HIV situation in the country," he said.

Zimbabwe recently adopted the 2013 World Health Organisation guidelines giving the country an obligation to provide treatment to all HIV positive pregnant women, children, people infected with both HIV and TB as well as discordant couples.

The new guidelines also challenge Government to introduce more efficacious regiments to increase chances of survival for people living with HIV and reduce the rate of transmission from those HIV positive to their negative partners.

Studies have shown that chances of an HIV positive person passing the virus to a negative partner are low if they are on treatment.