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Dr Parirenyatwa

Walter Nyamukondiwa Chinhoyi Bureau
Chegutu District has managed to initiate nearly 20 000 patients on anti-retroviral treatment (ART), significantly reducing the waiting list of people who need the HIV drugs. This comes as the ART programme has been decentralised to all health institutions in the district. In a speech read on his behalf by acting Chegutu district administrator, Mr Solomon Rushamba at a Mhondoro HIV and Aids Gala recently, Health and Child Care Minister Dr David Parirenyatwa said the district had since started initiating people on ART without regard to their CD4 count.

“I am happy to report that to date there are 18 387 (17 424 adults and 963 children) who have been initiated on ART. I am also happy to announce that we have managed to decentralise the ART programme to almost all health institutions in the district and this has reduced the waiting list for ART enrolment,” said Dr Parirenyatwa.

Dr Parirenyatwa said initiation of anyone diagnosed of HIV regardless of the CD4 count ensured that people were not lost in the treatment process. He said owing to the successful treatment programmes, most HIV patients were now productive. Dr Parirenyatwa said Government was committed to eliminating new infections, HIV-related deaths and HIV stigma and discrimination.

“Ending Aids by 2030 requires a forceful approach that is hinged by innovation to scale up and promote uptake of high impact HIV prevention programmes. HIV testing services have become very important as they are an entry point to the majority of services, including antiretroviral therapy,” he said.

Dr Parirenyatwa called for private-public partnerships to mobilise resources in the response to HIV and Aids. At least 2 773 condoms were distributed at the Mhondoro-Mubaira HIV and Aids Gala and of that number, only 273 were for females. About 110 people were tested for diabetes, while 42 females were screened for cancer and two of them were found to be positive and were referred for further attention.

There was a significantly high number of females who sought the services that were offered at the gala. The galas have now grown to offer other health services, including testing for diabetes, blood pressure, dental services, screening of eyes for cataracts and cervical cancer.