Zimbabwe’s Health and Child Care Minister, Douglas Mombeshora, has reported an uptick in AIDS-related fatalities in the first half of this year, with figures rising to 5,932 compared to 5,712 during the same period last year.
Speaking at a media workshop in Harare on Thursday, June 26, the minister underscored that the increase of 220 deaths is a stark reminder that despite notable progress towards achieving the UNAIDS 95-95-95 targets, significant challenges persist.
He highlighted that resource constraints, pervasive stigma, and entrenched discrimination continue to imperil the gains made in the national fight against HIV/AIDS, urging the nation to confront these issues with both honesty and resolve.
In a bid to strengthen its strategic response, Zimbabwe is now pivoting towards full domestic financing for its HIV and AIDS programmes amid dwindling external support. However, this transition poses operational challenges, notably in sustaining outreach personnel and ensuring the continuity of community-based services. The minister emphasised the imperative to innovate and mobilise robust domestic partnerships, thereby building a resilient and self-sustaining national framework to combat the disease. Such a forward-thinking approach is vital to mitigating public health risks and safeguarding the hard-won progress in the nation’s battle against HIV/AIDS.