Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
to raise awareness of the disease and intensify its efforts to address the root causes
of risky behaviour. the strategy included provisions for reducing multiple sexual
partners, condom usage, promoting faithfulness, and advocating for women's rights.
also in 2006, the government in Harare scaled up its multi-sectoral response to the
virus by launching the four-year Zimbabwe national and HIv/aIDS Strategic Plan.
the plan builds on the lessons and recommendations from the national aIDS Policy
of 1999 as well as the national HIv/aIDS Framework (2000-04), which was credited
with the recent successes through a well-planned advocacy and educational policy.
Studies show that the declines in HIv prevalence rate in Zimbabwe are largely due
to behavioural changes among sexually active adults (Hallett
et al. 2006). Studies
indicate that in the eastern part of the country more men and women are increasingly
avoiding high-risk practices, such as sex with non-regular partners. Moreover, more
women insist on consistent use of condoms (Gregson
et al. 2006).
In recent years, the country has been able to fund its HIv/aIDS programmes
through various funding mechanisms. as a signatory to the 1998 abuja Declaration
to roll back malaria, Mugabe's regime has committed a minimum 15 percent of
the government's budget to the national healthcare sector. the government, through
taxes and the national aIDS trust Fund, earmarked a further 3 percent levy collected
and administered by the Ministry of Finance from all taxable income in order to
fund HIv/aIDS-related initiatives (Zimbabwe national Monitoring and evaluation
taskforce 2008, 5-6). this represented roughly 13.7 percent of total government
spending on the health sector in 2007. contributing to Harare's ambitious HIv/
aIDS programmes, the international community further provided US$41.93 million
in 2006 and US$64.30 million the previous year. Meanwhile the United nations
contributed US$24.14 million and $10.43 million in 2006 and 2005 respectively.
Zimbabwe also received additional funding for the period from the Global Fund in
the amount of US$60 million.
consequently, the availability of medical care provided by the government and
nGos to HIv-positive patients has increased in recent years due to efforts to promote
access to treatment, although it still does not meet the needs of all who desperately
need treatment. voluntary counselling and testing programmes have been expanded
over the past five years and are currently administered either free of charge or at a
nominal fee. In 2006, one month's art, without additional tests, cost approximately
Z$500 000 (US$5) per month in the public sector and between Z$2 million and
Z$6 million (US$20-US$60) per month in the private sector (Human rights watch
2006). Meanwhile, approximately 200 facilities across the country have begun
providing preventing mother-to-child transmission (PMtct) services.
However, this is not to say that the disease has been firmly put in check in
Zimbabwe. the country continues to record one of the highest HIv prevalence rates
in the world. according to 2005 national estimates from the Ministry of Health
and child welfare, 115 000 people living with HIv/aIDS are children aged 15 and
under. During the same year, approximately 162 000 Zimbabweans were living
with the virus and a further 170 000 died from aIDS-related illnesses, or more than
3000 a week (Human rights watch 2006, 17). recent statistics show that one in
