Married women are at an even greater risk of contracting the virus because they have limited choices in negotiating safer sex with their partners. According to the National Aids Council, the large social and economic gaps between men and women in Zimbabwe have played a central role in the spread of HIV.
“Millions of women have been indirectly affected by HIV owing to their childbearing role. They have to contend with issues such as mother-to-child transmission of HIV and caring for AIDS patients and orphans,” says the NAC report. “Recently, men have been taking the initiative in the fight against AIDS by taking part in voluntary medical male circumcision that can reduce the chance of a man becoming infected with HIV through heterosexual transmission by up to 60 percent,” it adds.
Zimbabwe experienced a turning point in the fight against AIDS as Members of Parliament were tested and some announced their results. Many men in rural areas are said to be supporting their partner’s decision to get tested. “There has been a change in attitude amongst men in rural areas as they fight the HIV pandemic. Some accompany their partners to get tested, while they try to prevent new infections by engaging in programmes that support the prevention of mother to child transmissions,” says the report.
With ARVs in short supply, the situation would be worse if infections continue to increase. “With donor finding drying up, we cannot keep adding to the numbers of people who need treatment. The continued high incidence rate of HIV infection within the marriage institution is a reflection of the prevailing attitude that getting married is a method of preventing infection. Although there are talks of breakthroughs in the research into possible HIV treatment, the truth is that right now there is no cure for HIV/ Aids,” said a Harare-based social commentator, Chamunorwa Mubayo.
Post published in: News