SEKE, MASHONALAND EAST – AS Zimbabwe continues to celebrate milestones in the national HIV and AIDS response, the government has reaffirmed its commitment to preventing new infections as a central pillar towards ending AIDS by the year 2030.
For members of Time HIV AIDS Support Group, a group made up of 50 people living with HIV and AIDS in Seke District, government’s anti-retroviral therapy (ART) programme and the Prevention of Mother to Child Transmission (PMTCT) initiatives have transformed their lives.
Mrs Violet Nyamande, who tested HIV positive in 1997, praised the life-saving impact of the ART programme.
“I tested positive when I was just 37, and I am now 63. I have lived positively all these years through strict adherence to ART. At first, I lost hope, but the National AIDS Council supported us, and now I’m a living example that one can live a full and happy life with HIV,” she said.
Another member, Mr Edson Shayamano, also shared his journey after testing positive in 2004. With the support of the PMTCT programme, he and his HIV-positive partner have four HIV-negative children.
“After I tested positive I thought that was the end of me but I was introduced to art and managed to survive, at that time I was not married so I had to look for an HIV positive partner and so far we have four children all under the PMCT program and they are all healthy, we thank government for the initiative,” he said.
According to Seke District AIDS Coordinator, Ms Florence Nyandoro, the focus has now shifted to consolidating these gains by reducing new infections.
“We have peer-led monitors deployed in communities to support HIV prevention efforts. Our goal is to ensure that new infections are minimised while maintaining high ART coverage for those already living with the virus,” she said.
Mashonaland East Province, with 136 531 people living with HIV, recorded 1 271 new infections in 2024.
However, health officials remain optimistic that with continued support and awareness, new infections can be significantly reduced.
Zimbabwe has adopted a robust strategy that includes free ART distribution, extensive awareness campaigns, and community-led monitoring, all underpinned by the vision to end AIDS as a public health threat by 2030.
