BEAT Aids Project Zimbabwe (BAPZ) has opened a clinic in Victoria Falls to provide free medical treatment to people living with HIV in Hwange district where 12 035 people are reportedly on anti-retroviral therapy (ARV).
By Ruth Ngwenya
Speaking during the official opening of the clinic at Mkhosana, district medical officer Patson Tofireyi said 795 children in Hwange district lived with HIV. He said in Victoria Falls alone, 3 339 adults and 250 children were on ARVs.
“Most patients were travelling more than 400km to access viral load measurement facilities,” Tofireyi said.
“This clinic will go a long way in helping the local community with medication and treatment.”
He said poverty was forcing some patients and their families to sell their valuable properties including livestock to enable them to access treatment.
Tofireyi said the new free clinic marked a new era in the resort town and commended the support provided by partners and sponsors.
Zimbabwe Network of People Living with HIV (ZNPP) director Muchanyara Mukamuri said ART (anti-retroviral therapy) circulation was 77% amongst adults and 41% for children country wide.
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“HIV is high in Matabeleland North especially in Hwange because of mining activities and Victoria Falls because of it being a resort town which is visited by different people from different areas,” Mukamuri said.
She added that the clinic would enable communities to access medication and urged locals to make use of the facility to get screened for the virus including children.
“This clinic will also help fight the HIV stigma that is still prevailing in society as there are people who still find it hard to accept HIV infected people,” Mukamuri said.
She said women continued being the most infected with a prevalence rate of 18% compared to 12% for men nationally.
“There are many factors that make women the most affected like our biological set up and abuses that we face.
“Women need serious empowerment and education for them to take control of their sexual rights,” said Mukamuri.
She said the uptake of female condom was low with most women especially married ones under estimating their HIV risk and failing to negotiate for the use of condoms within their marriages.
“Decentralisation of these medical facilities will increase the number of people who access medical assistance.” said Sibongile Shumba a monitoring and evaluation officer of National Aids Council Matabeleland North.
Victoria Falls Mayor Sifiso Mpofu commended BAPZ for its dedication to save lives by conducting different programme that will help reduce HIV stigma in the community and paying fees for children who are HIV victims.
BAPZ founder, chief medical officer with World Health Clinicians (WHC), Dr Gary Blick said the clinic was his dream since the year 2000. He said BAPZ was set to service more than 50 000 people.
