Mash East HIV prevalence rate declines

Zim Now Writer

Provincial Affairs Minister for Mashonaland East Province, Apollonia Munzverengwi said the HIV prevalence rate in has declined.

Speaking during the World’s Aids Day celebrations at Rudhaka Stadium in Marondera last week, Provincial Affairs Director Muchemwa Mugwisi, who spoke on behalf of Munzverengwi, said there has been a decent decline in both new and existing cases.

“Our HIV prevalence rate has dropped significantly over the years, while incidence also dropped from 0,45 percent in 2010 to 0,18 percent in 2021.

“Adult Anti-Retroviral (ART) coverage in the province stands at 87 percent, while children’s ART coverage stands at 68 a percent, according to the 2021 HIV estimates.

“We have an estimated total number of 139 450 people living with HIV and Aids with 82 896 being females, 56 547 are males while 138 463 people are on ART therapy,” Mugwisi said.

Meanwhile, the ministry continues to appeal for intensive efforts to fight against the HIV/Aids pandemic.

“The province witnessed 1 945 Aids-related deaths in 2021. This shows that the pandemic is not yet over and calls for concerted efforts to respond to the epidemic,” Mugwisi added.

The ministry has also revealed that about 2 000 people succumbed to Aids-related diseases in the province in 2021.