We cannot employ ART services to every health facility, because we do not have the resources. So from the resources that we have we have to consider how best we can achieve at least 80% of ART coverage and the most efficient and effective way to achieve this is by setting up 220 ART sites, Dr Richard Matikanya an HIV and AIDS expert told stakeholders Review meeting of the draft Zimbabwe National Strategic Planning in HIV and AIDS last week.
According to the Ministry of Health 320 000 people are on ART with 505 000 in urgent need of the service. Although the countrys HIV prevalence is on the decline to 14, 6 now from over 15% in 2009s and 27% five years ago, reports say 60 000 people were infected with HIV this year alone.
Meanwhile, Zimbabwes efforts to reduce HIV prevalence might be reversed due to the dwindling funding from both local and international development partners, Zimbabwe AIDS Network Director Lindiwe Chaza Jangira has said.
Generally and globally there is a move towards reducing funding specifically HIV and AIDS. This has led to a situation where other individuals have become more legitimate than others and yet the ideas should be that who needs responses to HIV and AIDS and access to them, she said.
There was a commitment made by all Government in 2006 to commit 15% of the national budget to the Health sector. The ministry of health says more than $700 million is needed for the sector to get back to normal.
Post published in: News