HIV. in Zimbabwe

Mexico, Mexico City– With around one in seven adults living with HIV1 and

an estimated 565 adults and children becoming infected every day (roughly

one person every three minutes), Zimbabwe is experiencing one of the

harshest AIDS epidemics in the world.

With such figures, where there is a propensity for the spread of feel good

news in Zimbabwe, one would think the ZANU-PF government, in partnership

with civil society and NGOs, would join hands and scour the world looking

for funding, ways to fight the epidemic, and doctors who are willing to

donate their labour free.

Instead of funding trips by Zimbabwean AIDS activists to the AIDS Coference

in Mexico, Mexico City, the government chooses  to fund patronage packages

for civil servants.

The AIDS 2008 summit is designed to provide many opportunities for the

presentation of important new scientific research and for productive,

structured dialogue on the major challenges facing the global response to

AIDS.

Zimbabwe is represented by National AIDS Council Executive Director Tapiwa

Magure. It remained unclear if Health Minister David Parirenyatwa would

attend, but many AIDS activists expressed their frustration at their failure

to travel to the annual event.

Instead of working for the wellbeing of Zimbabweans, Dr. Parirenyatwa, MP

for Murehwa North, spent his time over the past few months leading ZANU-PF

militia units on the rampage in Murehwa, torturing, beating, killing and

setting fire to the homes of MDC supporters and activists.

Although the epidemic appears to be on the wane in Zimbabwe, the prevelance

rate is still very high by global standards.

In three southern African countries, the national adult HIV prevalence rate

has risen higher than was thought possible and now exceeds 20%. These

countries are Botswana (23.9%), Lesotho (23.2%) and Swaziland (26.1%).

AIDS patients in Zimbabwe have suffered over the years, mostly due to the

neglect of the ZANU-PF government of the state hospitals where most patients

recieve their medication. Government hospitals are now plugged by

mismanagement, lack of funding, lack of manpower, and shortage of drug.

Hopefully, the GNU government that comes into office soon will focus a light

on the AIDS pandemic, for it is a threat to the security of the

country.–Harare Tribune News