Columbus Mabika Herald Reporter
Government has launched a strategic public-private sector partnership framework to strengthen the country’s response for TB and HIV prevention, treatment, care and support. In a speech read on his behalf by Lands and Rural Resettlement Minister Dr Douglas Mombeshora, Minister of Health and Child Care Dr David Parirenyatwa said the engagement of the private sector was critical in the fight against TB and HIV.

“Biased towards HIV and TB programmes, this signals a big platform to strengthen our engagement with the private sector into matters of health affecting our populace using HIV, Aids and TB as entry points,” he said.

Dubbed “The Strategic Framework for Public Private Partnerships for TB and HIV Prevention, Treatment, Care and Support”, the framework was launched in Harare on Wednesday.

“This marks a step towards achieving zero new infections, zero deaths and zero discrimination for HIV, Aids and TB,” said Dr Parirenyatwa.

“Despite the observed successes, the country still has a burden of the dual HIV and TB epidemics. Against such a background, we have been exploring potential opportunities for collaboration to share the burden using a multi-sectoral approach.”

The framework, he said, is aimed at helping the country to find solutions to human resource challenges, sustainable health financing and information systems for universal access.

In addition, Dr Parirenyatwa said the partnerships will leverage resources from the public and private sectors directly to reduce the impact of HIV, Aids and TB in Zimbabwe.

“It is hoped that the implementation of this framework will contribute towards reducing mortality and morbidity among people infected with TB, and people living with HIV in line with Zimbabwe’s commitment to improve quality of life through the provision of comprehensive HIV and TB services,” he said. The HIV prevalence rate in Zimbabwe declined to 15 percent in 2013 from 28 percent in 1997 while new HIV infections dropped 34 percent and Aids-related deaths declined by 57 percent between 2005 and 2013, according to official health statistics. The country’s TB treatment success rate increased from 78 percent to 81 percent.

About 1,3 million Zimbabweans are estimated to be living with HIV and Aids, with 618 980 adults (78 percent) and 46 319 children (41 percent) on anti-retroviral treatment by December 2014.

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