The National Aids Council (Nac) has called for a renewed focus on HIV prevention and basic public education, warning that complacency and gaps in information could undermine Zimbabwe’s efforts to end Aids by 2030.
Nac Bulawayo provincial manager Sinatra Nyathi said prevention remained the most effective way of containing new HIV infections, particularly at a time when disruptions to programmes and donor support were creating new challenges.
Nyathi said communities needed to return to the basics by ensuring that people understood how HIV is transmitted and most importantly, how it can be prevented.
She said the availability of antiretroviral drugs (ARVs) should not create a false sense of security among the public, stressing that treatment improves the quality of life for people living with HIV but does not cure the virus.
“People now think that there are ARVs, so I can live with HIV and just go on treatment. Yes, ARVs improve the quality of life, but they don’t cure HIV,” Nyathi said.
She urged Zimbabweans not to abandon prevention simply because HIV treatment is available, saying the increasing complexity and cost of treatment made prevention even more important.
Nyathi said people who were already on treatment should also make every effort to remain on their first-line regimen by adhering to treatment, noting that moving to second- or third-line treatment could have implications for both patients and the health system.
Her comments come amid concerns over the sustainability of HIV programmes following changes in support from international partners which had affected a number of programmes, including HIV prevention initiatives.
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She said the disruption of prevention programmes was particularly concerning because Zimbabwe could not afford to lose momentum in the fight against the diseases.
“The worst thing is that they stopped the programmes for HIV prevention,” Nyathi said.
Nyathi also called on individuals to take personal responsibility for protecting themselves from HIV, including through condom use.
She said the reduction or uncertainty of donor-funded condom supplies meant communities could no longer assume that condoms would always be freely available through public programmes.
“We really need to teach our communities to take responsible actions in order to stop HIV at personal level, at family level, at community level and basically at national level,” she said.
She urged people to share HIV information within their families, workplaces, churches and communities, saying everyone had a role to play in ensuring that accurate information reached those who needed it.
She also highlighted drug and substance abuse as another factor that could undermine HIV prevention efforts.
According to her, people under the influence of drugs or alcohol may be less likely to make responsible decisions, potentially increasing their vulnerability to HIV infection.
“If someone is under influence, they cannot make an important decision. They become risky in terms of the effect of Aids,” she said.
She called for intensified efforts to address drug and substance abuse alongside HIV prevention as Zimbabwe works towards ending AIDS as a public health threat by 2030.
The Nac provincial manager also challenged the media to play a more aggressive role in spreading accurate HIV prevention messages and keeping the issue on the public agenda.
