Today, the MDC joins the rest of the world in commemorating the World Aids Day.
This years theme is; Universal Access and Human Rights. The MDC calls upon the inclusive government to ensure that the rights of the people are protected and well guarded to stop the spread of this deadly virus.
It is further regretable that HIV/Aids, remains one of the biggest threats to development in Zimbabwe because of the critical shortage of anti retrovirals in public hospitals. The shortages have exacerbated the conditions of those living with HIV/Aids. Access to ARV drugs remains low with a national cover of only 40 percent for adults and 57 percent for children. The prevalance rate remains high at 13.7 percent for adults aged 15 to 49 years.
The MDC urges the government to urgently address the issue of this menace to national development and success through effective awareness programmes and by making ARVs easily available and affordable by all. Zimbabwe is one of the countries with the highest prevalence rate in the world where about 5 000 Aids-related deaths occur every week. We are losing the most productive and economic population to this pandemic.
While the MDC appreciates what the inclusive government has done in reviving the collapsed health delivery system, we believe more should be done to emphasise primary health care and the provision of ARVs to survivors of the pandemic. The MDC sees the nations health as a priority, having placed it second in the national budgetary allocation.
Against this background, the MDC urges Zimbabweans to remove the stigma of Aids; to encourage voluntary testing and counselling; and to spread the word about the danger of unprotected sex and multiple sex partnerships.
Together, united, winning, ready for real change!
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