Zimbabwe has turned the corner in the fight against Aids, but progress is still being undermined by the state of the economy, President Robert Mugabe said on Friday.
In a statement to mark World Aids Day, Mugabe said the country should now focus on behaviour change and address the identified drivers of the pandemic.
”Although the … effects have been disastrous, our sustained and continuous efforts have begun to show good results in the HIV prevalence-rate drop from 24,6% in 2003 to 20,1% in 2005 and about 18,1% this year,” Mugabe said.
”However, we must not be complacent. This drop, which is the only one in Southern Africa, suggests that we are on the right track and that we have many lessons to share with our neighbours.”
Mugabe said the state of the economy — with inflation running at more than 1 000% — meant public funds for antiretroviral drugs were in short supply.
”As a nation, we are proud that the decline in the HIV prevalence rate is taking place in an environment constrained by resources,” said the president.
”The [economic] environment continues to curtail the country’s ability to improve access to both prevention and treatment.
”It is unfortunate that many of those who need antiretroviral treatment cannot access it and, hence rely on home-based care,” he said.
Mugabe thanked the United Nations Children’s Fund for providing $42-million worth of support services to Aids orphans for the next three years.
Zimbabwe is one of the countries hardest hit by the HIV and Aids pandemic with at least 3 000 people dying weekly from Aids-related illness — or about one person every three minutes — according to the National Aids Council.
Mugabe’s government collects a monthly levy from workers to fund HIV and Aids projects. — Sapa-AFP