Angelah Nothando Mlotshwa
Environment and Health Reporter
The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is a retrovirus, which, like many other viruses, stores its genetic information as RNA rather than as DNA (most other living things use DNA).
When HIV enters a human cell, it releases its RNA, and an enzyme called reverse transcriptase makes a DNA copy of the HIV RNA. The resulting HIV DNA is integrated into the infected cell’s DNA. This process is the reverse of that used by human cells, which make an RNA copy of DNA. Thus, HIV is called a retrovirus, referring to the reversed (backward) process.
“We give our commitment towards addressing the structural determinants of the health that prevent woman, especially adolescents and young women from accessing care”, said Vice President and Minister of Health and Child Care Constantino Chiwenga.
“We are strongly committed to attaining the ambitious targets that we have set for ourselves as a country. This should not just be a talk show but should galvanize momentum and action as each and every one of us plays their part to end AIDS in Children by 2030”
“As Chair of the national validation committee for eliminating vertical transmission of HIV in6- Zimbabwe, I commit to strengthening activities to prevent vertical transmission of HIV, and to closing the treatment gap for children in need of antiretroviral treatment.”
“Children are our future, the future parents and leaders of our nations and we need to invest in this health and well being. We commit to supporting women and men in need of antiretroviral treatment to receive the treatment and care that they need for their own health as well for preventing HIV transmission to children” added Chiwenga.
“Antiretroviral the treatment for HIV. In the Ministry of Health and Child Care facilities it is free to the patient as Ministry buys using the AIDS levy and support from Global Fund and other funding partners.
HIV positive people need ART.
The treatment is lifetime, until death.”, said Bulawayo Medical Provincial Director, Maphios Siamuchembu.
In 2019, about 38 million people, including 1.8 million children under age 15, were living with HIV infection worldwide. In 2019, about 690,000 people died from AIDS-related illnesses worldwide, compared to 1.9 million in 2004 and 1.4 million in 2010. In 2019, about 1.7 million people, including 150,000 children, were newly infected with HIV, compared to 3.4 million new infections in 1996.
Recent evidence shows that HIV infected people in whom antiretroviral therapy has reduced their viral load below the current detectable level (virally suppressed) do not sexually transmit the virus to their partners.
Therefore using antiretrovirals can be an option to fight against the spread of HIV in Zimbabwe.