Zimpapers Logo

Andile Tshuma, Chronicle Reporter
PEOPLE have been urged to know their HIV status and get screened for Tuberculosis (TB) and Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) to achieve the country’s goal to end Aids by 2030.

Speaking in a telephone interview, National Aids Council (Nac) Communications Officer Mrs Tadiwa Nyatanga-Pfupa said this ahead of World Aids Day commemorations to be held tomorrow in Mazowe district, Mashonaland Central Province.

She said the district was specifically selected as a venue for the commemorations due to its high HIV prevalence of 18,6 percent.

This year commemorations will run under the theme “Know your status”, which comes against a background of HIV infections that continue to be recorded countrywide and globally.

“Apart from encouraging people to just know their HIV status, this year’s theme has been broadened to call on everyone to get screened for other conditions such as Tuberculosis (TB), Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) and other non-communicable diseases, chief among them, cancer,” said Mrs Nyatanga-Pfupa.

She said it was important for people living with HIV and Aids to know their CD4 count as well as their viral load.

Mrs Nyatanga-Pfupa said knowing these will lead to Zimbabwe achieving the 90 by 90 by 90 targets by 2020 and ultimately end Aids by 2030.

The 90 by 90 by 90 targets state that 90 percent of all people who are HIV-positive must know their status, 90 percent of all those that are HIV-positive must be on treatment and 90 percent of those that are on treatment must have their viral load suppressed.

Nac’s Provincial Manager for Mashonaland Central Province, Mr David Nyamurera said they looked forward to successful commemorations.

“We have so far received tremendous support from most of our stakeholders at both provincial and national levels, but are still in need of more financial support for the day to run smoothly,” he said.

The annual commemorations are rotated among the country’s 10 provinces.

Bulawayo province hosted the 2017 commemorations and in 2016 the venue was Kwekwe in the Midlands province. Mashonaland Central last hosted the event ten years ago.

Globally, World Aids Day is held on 1 December and is an opportunity for people worldwide to unite in the fight against HIV, show their support for people living with HIV and to commemorate people who have died due to Aids. — @andile_tshuma.