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Bulawayo records major drop in HIV prevalence
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The City of Kings has achieved a remarkable milestone in the fight against HIV, recording a significant decline in prevalence from 13.2 percent in 2020 to 10.7 percent by the end of 2024 - a development health authorities have hailed as a major victory in the city's ongoing battle against the virus.
The latest figures were unveiled during a Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) breakfast meeting held in Bulawayo on Wednesday, organised by the Zimbabwe Private Sector HIV and Wellness (ZIPSHAWA) in collaboration with the National AIDS Council (NAC). The meeting ran under the theme "Promoting Private Sector Coordination and Expanding ZIPSHAWA's Presence in the Southern Region."
In his keynote address, NAC Bulawayo provincial manager, Mr Douglas Moyo, attributed the sharp decline to improved health-seeking behaviour - particularly among men - and stronger workplace health programmes.
"Bulawayo has recorded a significant drop in prevalence rate across all demographics. Prevalence rate dropped from 13.2 percent in 2020 to 10.7 percent by end of 2024," said Mr Moyo.
He commended men for taking a more proactive role in health matters, traditionally viewed as a challenge in HIV programming.
"For males, the prevalence rate dropped from 9.9 percent to 7.8 percent. This is commendable progress. It is not easy for males to queue at public health institutions for their wellness," he noted.
Among females, prevalence also fell markedly - from 16.3 percent in 2020 to 13.6 percent by the end of 2024.
"As Bulawayo, we will make sure we don't lag behind in the national fight against HIV," Mr Moyo added.
Despite the progress, Moyo cautioned that challenges remain, especially in workplace-based HIV and wellness initiatives. He cited low awareness among employers, poor risk perception, and limited time allocation for wellness activities as persistent barriers.
"They (workers) spend most of their time at work and therefore need to access vital information during working hours. Some CEOs will organise sessions but retreat to their offices and not participate," he said.
He also noted that wellness programmes often struggle to secure adequate resources and attention.
"Activities are squeezed between tea and lunch time. Some companies find it difficult to allocate funds for wellness programmes," he said.
With Zimbabwe racing toward its 2030 national HIV targets, Mr Moyo called for stronger private sector involvement to maintain the downward trajectory.
"Going towards 2030, we need everyone to accelerate participation," he urged.
The meeting's objectives included enhancing coordination within the private sector, expanding ZIPSHAWA's footprint in the southern region, and promoting innovative approaches to HIV prevention and wellness. Participants also explored "quick-win" interventions to strengthen the national multi-sectoral response to the epidemic.
Health experts at the gathering emphasized that Bulawayo's success story demonstrates the impact of collaborative action between the public and private sectors - a model they believe could help Zimbabwe edge closer to ending AIDS as a public health threat by 2030.
The latest figures were unveiled during a Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) breakfast meeting held in Bulawayo on Wednesday, organised by the Zimbabwe Private Sector HIV and Wellness (ZIPSHAWA) in collaboration with the National AIDS Council (NAC). The meeting ran under the theme "Promoting Private Sector Coordination and Expanding ZIPSHAWA's Presence in the Southern Region."
In his keynote address, NAC Bulawayo provincial manager, Mr Douglas Moyo, attributed the sharp decline to improved health-seeking behaviour - particularly among men - and stronger workplace health programmes.
"Bulawayo has recorded a significant drop in prevalence rate across all demographics. Prevalence rate dropped from 13.2 percent in 2020 to 10.7 percent by end of 2024," said Mr Moyo.
He commended men for taking a more proactive role in health matters, traditionally viewed as a challenge in HIV programming.
"For males, the prevalence rate dropped from 9.9 percent to 7.8 percent. This is commendable progress. It is not easy for males to queue at public health institutions for their wellness," he noted.
Among females, prevalence also fell markedly - from 16.3 percent in 2020 to 13.6 percent by the end of 2024.
"As Bulawayo, we will make sure we don't lag behind in the national fight against HIV," Mr Moyo added.
Despite the progress, Moyo cautioned that challenges remain, especially in workplace-based HIV and wellness initiatives. He cited low awareness among employers, poor risk perception, and limited time allocation for wellness activities as persistent barriers.
"They (workers) spend most of their time at work and therefore need to access vital information during working hours. Some CEOs will organise sessions but retreat to their offices and not participate," he said.
He also noted that wellness programmes often struggle to secure adequate resources and attention.
"Activities are squeezed between tea and lunch time. Some companies find it difficult to allocate funds for wellness programmes," he said.
With Zimbabwe racing toward its 2030 national HIV targets, Mr Moyo called for stronger private sector involvement to maintain the downward trajectory.
"Going towards 2030, we need everyone to accelerate participation," he urged.
The meeting's objectives included enhancing coordination within the private sector, expanding ZIPSHAWA's footprint in the southern region, and promoting innovative approaches to HIV prevention and wellness. Participants also explored "quick-win" interventions to strengthen the national multi-sectoral response to the epidemic.
Health experts at the gathering emphasized that Bulawayo's success story demonstrates the impact of collaborative action between the public and private sectors - a model they believe could help Zimbabwe edge closer to ending AIDS as a public health threat by 2030.
Source - The Chronicle
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