Zimbabwe launches door-to-door HIV testing programme

Door to door HIV testing being conducted under a programme known as Zimbabwe Population Based HIV Impact Assessment (ZIMPHIA) has been launched in Harare.

The ZIMPHIA survey targets 15 000 households randomly selected in the country's 10 provinces.

Harare residents part of the delegates who attended the ZIMPHIA launch at a local hotel, danced and made merry as they sang along to the ZIMPHIA theme song.

It however remains to be seen if the same joy will meet the teams that will visit them at home for HIV testing.

ZIMPHIA is being led by the Ministry of Health and Child Care with support from the US President's Emergency Fund for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) to the tune of US$8 million.

Centre for Diseases Control (CDC) Country Director, Dr Beth Tippett Barr commended Zimbabwe for being the first country to implement the survey.

Guest of honour, the Minister of State for Harare Provincial Affairs, Miriam Chikukwa commended the survey, saying it will provide a platform for policy makers to make informed decisions.

Some of the people who attended the launch said they will gladly participate in the survey since community involvement in any intervention has sustainable positive impact.

About 30 000 adults and children are expected to be tested for both HIV and syphilis.

Results for those tested are given promptly, but for viral load, blood samples are sent to a laboratory for further analysis and results will be shared after six to eight weeks.

Data collection of the study commenced in 2015 and Harare is the last province to conduct the survey.