Posted by Zimbabwe’s President Robert Mugabe said a cholera outbreak currently affecting his country was “disastrousâ€, warning that it could severely strain the country’s health delivery system and wipe out gains already made in the fight against HIV and Aids.
Speaking Sunday in a televised message on the eve of World Aids Day which falls on Monday, Mugabe said a strained health delivery system and cholera outbreak were likely to severely compromise Zimbabwe’s impressive march towards reducing HIV and Aids prevalence.
“The interaction between HIV/Aids and cholera will negatively affect the health delivery system and therefore compromise our fight against HIV and Aids,†Mugabe said.
A cholera outbreak blamed on the lack of clean drinking water has killed more than 400 people in Zimbabwe since August.
Mugabe urged Zimbabweans to exercise good hygiene practices to avoid contracting the disease and further straining the health delivery system.
He called for unity among all stakeholders in doubling efforts to reduce the prevalence of HIV and Aids by scaling up treatment and prevention.
Mugabe thanked non-governmental organizations that are providing food and home-based care for those infected and affected by HIV and Aids.
“I welcome the recent approval of $500 million grant by the Global Fund and want to reaffirm my government’s commitment to continue working with all stakeholders in the fight against HIV and Aids,†the veteran Zimbabwean leader said.
An estimated 150,000 people are expected to be on anti-retroviral treatment by the end of the year.
Zimbabwe has made positive strides in reducing the HIV and Aids prevalence rate from about 25 percent in 2003 to 15.6 percent in 2007. Zimbabwe-Health-HIV/Aids
Mugabe says cholera outbreak threatens fight against HIV/Aids
APA-Harare (Zimbabwe) Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe said a cholera outbreak currently affecting his country was “disastrousâ€, warning that it could severely strain the country’s health delivery system and wipe out gains already made in the fight against HIV and Aids.
Speaking Sunday in a televised message on the eve of World Aids Day which falls on Monday, Mugabe said a strained health delivery system and cholera outbreak were likely to severely compromise Zimbabwe’s impressive march towards reducing HIV and Aids prevalence.
“The interaction between HIV/Aids and cholera will negatively affect the health delivery system and therefore compromise our fight against HIV and Aids,†Mugabe said.
A cholera outbreak blamed on the lack of clean drinking water has killed more than 400 people in Zimbabwe since August.
Mugabe urged Zimbabweans to exercise good hygiene practices to avoid contracting the disease and further straining the health delivery system.
He called for unity among all stakeholders in doubling efforts to reduce the prevalence of HIV and Aids by scaling up treatment and prevention.
Mugabe thanked non-governmental organizations that are providing food and home-based care for those infected and affected by HIV and Aids.
“I welcome the recent approval of $500 million grant by the Global Fund and want to reaffirm my government’s commitment to continue working with all stakeholders in the fight against HIV and Aids,†the veteran Zimbabwean leader said.
An estimated 150,000 people are expected to be on anti-retroviral treatment by the end of the year.
Zimbabwe has made positive strides in reducing the HIV and Aids prevalence rate from about 25 percent in 2003 to 15.6 percent in 2007.
Source African Press Agency
