Published by the government of Zimbabwe
26 October 2007
Harare — Zimbabwe is poised to achieve the universal access to HIV and Aids treatment, prevention, care and support by 2010, a senior health official has said.
At the 2005 World Summit, United Nations member states agreed to develop and implement a package for HIV prevention, treatment and care by 2010 for all those in need. Addressing journalists attending a workshop on universal access issues in Zimbabwe on Tuesday, head of the Aids and TB Unit in the Ministry of Health and Child Welfare, Dr Owen Mugurungi said Zimbabwe had a target of offering free anti-retroviral drugs to at least 140 000 people living with HIV and Aids. He said of the set target, which was supposed to be met by year-end the country had already put close to 90 000 people on Government's ARV rollout plan.
"More than 80 percent of our target population are already on ARVs. If we double our efforts in the next two months that means we might surpass the set target." Dr Mugurungi said Zimbabwe is among African countries who sees a 100 percent universal access to treatment as unrealistic, hence reducing the target to 75 percent. National Aids Council (NAC) Operations Director, Mr Raymond Yekeye also agreed with the Aids and TB Unit saying Zimbabwe was now looking at fulfilling district targets.
"I think at national level we will manage, we are now focusing on district targets," said Yekeke addressing the same group of journalists. However, non-governmental organisations dealing with HIV and Aids had a different story to tell as they see Zimbabwe failing to meet universal access by 2010 target just as it missed the WHO 3 by 5 initiative. The World Health Organisation's 3 by 5 initiative was a global target meant to provide treatment to at least 3 million people in need of ARVs by 2005
In Southern Africa only three countries pulled through. Non Governmental organisations that included the Zimbabwe Aids Network also highlighted reluctance by Government to take up some of the commitments made at global level. Mrs Lindiwe Chaza-Jangira of ZAN said civic society was concerned with governments shifting of goal posts regarding set targets. Initially, the global target emphasises a 100 percent universal access to HIV and Aids treatment, prevention, care and support but was revised down to 75 percent with the realisation that most African countries considered the 100 percent unrealistic.
"We are worried that governments instead of scaling up they are scaling down their efforts in responding to HIV and Aids. We are seeing a situation whereby governments are now shifting targets because they are no longer able to meet them," said Mrs Chaza-Jangira.
The two-day workshop was organised by Panos Southern Africa - a regional non governmental organisation based in Lusaka, Zambia - in conjunction with ZAN and newly-formed Development Data-Zimbabwe.
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