Dr Celestine Dhege (right) and other officials tour exhibition stands
BY NYARADZO CHITUNGO
Women have proven to be vulnerable and continue to bear the brunt of the HIV pandemic despite the fact that new HIV infections have signicantly dropped countrywide.
Mashonaland West Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution Honourable Marian Chombo, revealed this in a speech read on her behalf by the Provincial Medical Director for the Ministry of Health and Child Care, Dr Celestine Dhege at the belated 2024 World AIDS Day commemorations.
At the commemorations held at Patchway Mine Stadium in Sanyati on May 30, Minister Chombo revealed that women were disproportionately affected by the new HIV infections and their numbers were staggering.
“Of the 15, 400 new infections recorded last year, adolescent women accounted for 9,200 of them and women also accounted for 1,500 of the 1, 700 new infections.”
Minister Chombo reiterated that the main contributing factor is gender inequalities and socio-economic vulnerabilities that heighten exposure to HIV.
The Government, she revealed, has joined forces and collaborated with relevant stakeholders in intensifying efforts to combat HIV/AIDS among young girls through targeted interventions, including condom distribution, education, and programs that are aimed at reducing child pregnancies and marriages.
“The Ministry of Health and Child Care working together with the National AIDS Council, donors and partners has scaled up key targeted interventions including distribution and promotion male and female condoms, the DREAMS and Sista 2 Sista programmes and various gender transformative programmes and other innovations meant to ensure young girls remain in school longer and that child pregnancies and marriages are eradicated in line with the laws.”
The Minister noted that towards the end of 2024, Mashonaland West Province launched a campaign to eliminate the worrisome and ever-raising cases of child marriages.
The campaign roped in community leaders to eradicate child marriages and also help young girls achieve their dreams.
“Towards the end of 2024, this Province in line with the Government’s efforts to end child marriages, with the support from National AIDS Council and other stakeholders, adopted the campaign ‘Not in my village’ whose theme focuses on the role of community leaders in ending child marriages.
“Additionally, it aims to empower young girls such that they are given the chance to fulfil their dreams.”
Dr Dhege in his own speech, echoed the same sentiments: “this initiative is crucial not only for addressing these pressing issues but also reducing the incidence of HIV and sexualy transmitted infections (STI) among adolescents.”
Dr Dhege further revealed about the new TB Stigma Reduction Plan and Toolkit which aims to tackle barriers and inequality in the context of TB.
“I’m also pleased to inform you about our TB Stigma Reduction Plan and Toolkit which aims to scale up key key human rights programs to address barriers and gender inequality in the context of tuberculosis.
“This initiative encourages community engagement in embracing all measures that reduce the spread of TB, emphasizing our collective responsibility for health and rights,” Dr Dhege indicated.
He went further to say that; “by improving community awareness and empowering key vulnerable populations (KVPs) to know, understand, and assert their rights, we can foster an environment where individuals feel dignified and supported.”
This effort not only reduced stigma surrounding TB but also promoted a culture of accountability and care, ensuring that everyone can access the necessary resources for their health and well-being.
The commemorations ran under the theme “Take the Right Path- my health, my rights.”
