VIENNA (SAfAIDS Media Desk) — Zimbabwe has been commended for its national response to HIV which has seen the country managing to record a decline in its HIV prevalence over the past decade. From a high of over 30 percent 10 years ago, the country’s HIV prevalence is currently at 13, 7 percent.

As the International AIDS Conference opened in Vienna, Austria on Sunday night experts in the field of health and HIV complimented the country’s efforts to respond more effectively to HIV saying there was real progress being made by the country to contain the epidemic.

Presenting an update of HIV in the word over the past few years, Dr Yves Souteyrand, co-ordinator of the strategic information unit in the HIV and AIDS Department in the World Health Organisation said between 460 000 and 860 000 new HIV infections had been averted in Zimbabwe due to behaviour change.

Behavioural surveys in Zimbabwe show that a reduction in casual sex, the number of extra marital partners, paid sex as well as high condom use have been evident in the country since 1999 leading to a decline in HIV prevalence. While death is one of the reasons for the decline in HIV prevalence, especially in the initial years when HIV treatment was virtually unavailable, the systematic decline points to a more sustained behaviour change pattern.

Dr Souteyrand’s comments come at a time when many countries have begun to consider Zimbabwe’s systematic decline as a success story. Many countries are grappling to identify strategies that could work at preventing new HIV infections. Countries like Uganda which a few years ago had managed to record declines in HIV incidence have been recording steady increases in new HIV infections, leading to a concern in the HIV field that countries cannot afford to slacken their efforts towards the HIV Response.

One of the main issues that is contributing to this is the issue of resources. Africa does not have adequate resources to respond to the epidemic and relies on donor funds which are not always forthcoming. One of the major issues on the AIDS Conference agenda is how to keep funding for HIV coming in. Western leaders are being urged to ensure they honour their commitments of funding HIV programmes.

The chief executive officer of the National AIDS Council who is attending the International AIDS Conference with some of the council’s board members, Dr Tapuwa Magure said it was important for Zimbabwe to tighten its response to HIV so that the country could maintain the HIV decline over the coming years.

“There is need to make sure that as a country we do not backslide. We cannot afford to start going backwards when we have come so far. As NAC we are here so that we can gain an appreciation of the new thinking around HIV so that we can go back and improve our country’s response to HIV. We are keen to see what works and what does not work,” he said. NAC is mandated with co-ordinating Zimbabwe‘s multi-sectoral response to HIV and works with several organisations to ensure a co-ordinated and effective response.

Coming out strongly at the AIDS Conference which this year is running under the theme of ‘Rights Here, Right Now’ to emphasise the connection between HIV and Human Rights  however, is the  need to recognise that making Anti-retroviral therapy (ART) accessible to everyone who needs it is one of the most effective ways of preventing new HIV infections.

Experts say if Africa can make ART available to everyone who needs it, which will require the support of the west, HIV can be eradicated in the next 10 years.
Sub-Saharan Africa is home to the highest HIV burden in the world with more than 30 million people infected with HIV.

People Living with HIV (PLHIV) attending the conference have come out strongly saying ART availability is a human rights issue. The millions of people infected with HIV can live long and healthy lives if they are put on ART.

But with several African countries, including Zimbabwe, having failed to meet the 2010 targets of Universal Access to Prevention, treatment, care and support to those in need of it, the challenge being proffered to leaders is for them to reaffirm their commitment to responding to HIV by making these essential fundamentals available to all.

The AIDS Conference runs from the 18th to the 23rd of July in Vienna. Several Zimbabwean organisations are attending this year’s conference and are showcasing the work being done in the country to respond to the epidemic. South African Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe and the Austrian President Dr Heinz also attended the official opening.