BRIDGET MABANDA
The United Nations Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator, Edward Kallon has said the government of Zimbabwe need to conduct more programs on HIV prevention and treatment to effectively end the pandemic in line with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
In his remarks at the International Conference on AIDS and Sexually Transmitted Infections (ICASA) held under the theme ‘AIDS is not over-Address Inequalities, Accelerate Inclusion and Innovation,’ Kallon, said the government must take critical action towards ending the pandemic.
“We need to scale up HIV prevention and treatment programs to cover all subpopulation groups, with a particular focus on adolescent girls and young women.
“Community leadership and the engagement of men are crucial in addressing social norms related to gender equality and gender-based violence,” said Kallon.
Kallon added that there is need for enacting, enforcing laws and policies for key population groups.
He also suggested that there should be more funding of HIV related programmes
“Adequate funding and economic opportunities should be allocated to communities, as this will connect individuals to person-centered public health services, foster trust, and hold providers accountable,” he said.
Kallon said HIV/AIDS remains a threat to socioeconomic progress and has the potential to destabilize society and hinder human development.
He said the 78th UN General Assembly held in September this year emphasized the need to prioritize HIV/AIDS prevention and care within universal health coverage and the integration of HIV services into primary healthcare systems, with a strong emphasis on strengthening community health systems.
“Political commitment, increased financing, innovation, research, and advocacy for human rights and gender equality are key to this paradigm shift. By addressing these areas, we can overcome barriers and accelerate our progress towards ending the HIV/AIDS epidemic and STIs,” he added.
Kallon also said Universal Health Coverage plays a pivotal role in our response to HIV/AIDS, and this requires investment at community and grassroots level including addressing inequalities, accelerating inclusion, and innovation.
