BY MUNYARADZI BLESSING DOMA
The success which the country enjoys in its HIV and AIDS response is greatly attributed to the dedication of Community and Village Health Workers, who tirelessly to deliver various services to the people, Speaker of Parliament, Advocate Jacob Mudenda has said.
Advocate Mudenda said Community and Village Health Workers confidently deliver health policies with regards to HIV, hence the country enjoys the results of such dedication.
He said this on Friday in his key note address during the National AIDS Council (NAC), Parliamentarians HIV and AIDS Sensitization Workshop which was held at the New Parliament Building.
“We have seen how these workers are dedicated, dedicated walking on foot, walking on foot from village to village.
“How I wish many of us would be inspired, the majority of us want to be supervised but these men and women are on their own, carrying out government policies, trying to uplift the communities among whom they work as far as healthcare is concerned.
“I don’t know how they were trained, but what I can I tell you from those I have met is that they have confidence in their implementation of the health policies regarding HIV,” said Advocate Mudenda.
He also revealed that the country’s HIV response has been a huge success, showing resilience in the face of numerous challenges.
Advocate Mudenda said Zimbabwe had managed to achieve the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) 95-95-95 targets.
The targets aim to ensure that 95 percent of people living with HIV know their status, 95 percent of those diagnosed with HIV are on antiretroviral therapy (ART) and 95 percent of those on ART achieve viral suppression.
Advocate Mudenda further revealed that these milestones speak to leadership commitment, the dedication of health professionals, the effectiveness of public health policies, and the strong partnerships the country has forged with civil society, international donors and development partners.
“It is critical to note that these successes were anchored on a robust legislative, policy and institutional framework. “At the heart of this health response was the robust primary healthcare system which has been the cornerstone of delivering HIV-related services to communities across the country.
“It is through this network of clinics, health centres, and importantly, Community and Village Health Workers that who have been able to expand access to HIV testing, treatment and care.
“These workers are the frontline soldiers for many Zimbabweans seeking healthcare delivery, particularly in rural areas where access to medical facilities is constrained.
“Community Health Workers have played a pivotal role in demystifying HIV, promoting voluntary counselling and testing (VCT), providing treatment adherence support and acting as a bridge between the healthcare system and the community.
“Without them, many of the most vulnerable populations would have been left behind.
“Yet, despite their critical role, we are faced with the worrying challenge of high staff attrition rates among healthcare professionals.
“Nurses, doctors and community health workers are increasingly leaving the country in search of the perceived greener pastures,” he said.
The Speaker of Parliament revealed that there is a deficit of 16 000 Village Health Workers, against a national target of 30,000.
He also revealed that according to the Zimbabwe Health Workforce Investment Compact, (2024 – 2026), Zimbabwe faces a need-based shortage of 57,573 health professionals and specialists.
“This attrition threatens the sustainability of the HIV programmes and other related healthcare imperatives. “However, it is encouraging that the Second Republic led by the visionary President Cde. Dr. E.D. Mnangagwa is putting in place effective skills retention measures to contain the situation.
“As such, health personnel that continue to shoulder on must be celebrated for their dedicated patriotism,” added Advocate Mudenda.
