HIV/Aids fight far from over
HUGE strides being made in the fight against HIV and Aids-related deaths are both encouraging and welcome.
This development deserves to be lauded.
It’s a clear indicator of how our country is making remarkable progress.
As a nation, it also shows how committed we are in the fight against the spread of HIV/Aids.
This is good news we like to hear and read as the fight gathers momentum.
The future, indeed, is bright as we are moving in the right direction.
In yesterday’s issue, the National Aids Council revealed that Zimbabwe’s HIV/Aids prevalence rate dropped to 11.58 percent.
The same article revealed that the mortality rate has gone down from 350 deaths per day in 2002 to 50 per day.
It was further highlighted that the AIDS mortality rate has massively declined.
As it stands, one million people, out of 1.3million, are now receiving antiretroviral therapy.
By doing so, this has also improved productivity and quality of life that many have been yearning for over the years.
This is a triumph on its own which deserves special mention.
Sadly, there are some people living with HIV, who are still undecided when it comes to taking the life-saving therapy.
AIDS is no longer as scary as it used to be in the ‘80s and ‘90s since the virus, which causes this disease, can now be easily suppressed.
People on therapy can live longer and they can meaningfully contribute to the development of the country.
Gone are days when people with HIV used to be segregated as the disease is now manageable.
This should encourage more to get tested and know their status earlier.
Failure to do so has huge consequences which can lead to untimely deaths.
All these efforts are being made because the media has been playing its part in disseminating the right information that people need to know about HIV and AIDS.
However, these statistics should come as a warning that the fight is not yet over.
Risk sexual behaviour should be avoided as we make giants strides in this grand fight.
New infections should be avoided at a time when we are making this progress.
We should always remember that this fight is far from over.
A laxity in this campaign and fight should be avoided to ensure that we save many lives.
We need to continue preaching the gospel of safe sex.
Recklessness and complacency should never be allowed to creep, especially at a time when we have made tremendous progress.
Influential people living with HIV should also lead the chorus in this campaign that the war is far from over.
Various stakeholders, who have been campaigning against new infections, should step up.
By taking a backseat, we won’t make these giants strides.
In a nutshell, the fight against HIV/ AIDS is far from over.