| Theme | Basic Healthcare - HIV/AIDS |
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| Country | Zimbabwe |
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| Region | Africa |
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| Program name | Healthprogramme Zimbabwe |
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| Financed partners | FACT Mutare, Morgenster Mission Hospital, CBAP, Family Impact, ZOE |
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| Funds | |
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| End date | 12-2015 |
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Context
Zimbabwe has a generalized HIV epidemic, with exceptionally high
level of HIV prevalence in the past and significantly lower levels
at present. It is estimated that between 1998 and 2010, adult HIV
prevalence has halved from 27.2% to 13.7%. The epidemic in Zimbabwe
has contracted faster than any other HIV epidemic in Eastern and
Southern Africa. The contraction in HIV prevalence is attributed to
very high mortality as well as significant changes in sexual
behaviour. Existing available data from the PSI surveys conducted
in 2001, 2003, 2005, 2006, and 2007 support this conclusion,
especially with regard to partner reduction. For men (age 15-29
years), the proportion reporting non-regular partners fell from 32%
in 2001 to 21% in 2003, and remained near that level through later
PSI surveys. For women aged 15-29 years, the estimates indicated a
reduction from 17% to 8% in the same period.
As largely the case elsewhere in Eastern and Southern Africa
region, adult HIV prevalence is significantly higher among women
aged 15-49 (21%) than among men in the same age cohort (14.5%) .
This gender gap is even wider among young people: Females aged
15-19 years have significantly higher HIV prevalence rates than men
among the same age group. The difference between female and male
prevalence is large also in the age groups 20-24, 25-29 and 30-34
years reflecting both historical transmission patterns and
significant levels of age disparate sexual relationships. The peak
age for HIV infection in women is 30-34 years while for men it is
the 40-44 years age group.
Although policies and legislation exist at macro level, they
have not been adequately translated into actions at meso and micro
level. Questionable policies causing uncontrollable migration flows
(as narrated in the previous section) also had an impact on the
HIV/AIDS pandemic. Finally, Zimbabwe's Sexual Offences Act forbids
homosexuality impeding prevention programs to reach men who have
sex with men (MSM). Other factors such as the massive increase in
AIDS deaths and out-migration of HIV patients to neighboring
Mozambique where ARVs are freely available may also have
contributed to the decrease. The collapse of the health system
mostly featured at meso level is leading to poor ARV availability
and lack of health service delivery. Capacity building activities
have been few and scattered, mostly spearheaded by NGOs and
concentrating on building community capacity to respond to HIV and
other health issues. The limited availability of trained health
personnel (due to low wages and high risks of contracting HIV)
affects the whole health sector and indicates the priority need for
capacity development and retention of health personnel. Homophobia
is still rampant in society leading to stigmatization and inability
to reach this high risk group. Faith based institutions have not
always been the best advocates for equality in gender relations and
sexual rights. As farming communities were disrupted at micro
level, the economy deteriorated, leading to increased poverty and
reduced access to education and healthcare. Women and girls have
had little opportunities to negotiate safe sex, increasing levels
of poverty have contributed to increased infection.
The Program Goal
By 2015 there is improved health status of people in nine (9)
rural districts and Bulawayo province
The Program Main Objective
To strengthen the capacity of CSOs to advocate for and promote a
functional, accessible and resilient health system that benefit
poor people vulnerable to and living with HIV in 9 districts and
Bulawayo province of Zimbabwe.
The priority indicators for the objective
o 25% reduction of HIV incidences in target
districts of the target population
o 80% of the target communities have access to
primary health care
o % of PLWHA have access to ARV treatment and
care
o Established referral system and increased
referrals in each partner site.
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