Reversing AIDS in Zimbabwe to cost 38 million

The Zimbabwean government said on Thursday reversing the spread of the HIV/AIDS pandemic over the 13 year period from 2002 to 2015 will cost an estimated 32 million to 38 million US dollars.

The government said in its Zimbabwe Millennium Development Goals Progress Report that these cost estimates did not include full-scale provision of anti-retroviral drugs for the estimated 600,000 full blown cases, or the 3.3 million sufferers of the disease as at 2003.

The six strategic areas of intervention cover prevention strategies and activities, care strategies and activities, mitigation strategies and activities, enhanced sector response strategies, monitoring and evaluation and development of District AIDS Action Plans.

Meanwhile, the government said infection rates among women aged between 20-39 years were very high.

According to an antenatal survey of 2000, the prevalence rate among 15-24 age group was 32 percent.

HIV prevalence among women below 20 years was five times higher than that of their male counterparts.

According to the Ministry of Health AIDS Program, by 2003, an estimated 600,000 people had full blown AIDS out of a total 2.1 to 2.3 million people infected with HIV.

By the end of 2002, UNAIDS estimated that 2.3 million people had been infected and the adult prevalence rate was 34 percent in the country.

The major challenges faced by the nation in reversing the spread of AIDS include behavioral change, improving access to essential drugs, inadequate resources to combat the pandemic and stigma and discrimination.

Others include co-ordination of AIDS programs, care and support for orphans, addressing gender inequalities and poverty reduction.

Source: Xinhua