Zimbabwe – Harare – 5 January 2010 – (The Herald) GOVERNMENT will this year focus on putting more HIV positive children on anti-retroviral treatment after it emerged that few children are benefiting from the life-prolonging drugs.
In his end of year message, Health and Child Welfare Minister Henry Madzorera said studies had shown that children get sick at a higher CD4 count compared to adults.

This, therefore, means children should be initiated on ART once diagnosed of HIV unlike adults whose CD4 count should reach a particular level for them to be put on the programme.

In Zimbabwe, people initiated on Government's ARV rollout programme should have a CD4 count of 200 and below.

"We do hope that in the coming year or two, we will be able to achieve universal access to care and treatment of HIV and Aids," Minister Madzorera said.
He said there are 20 000 children on ART now, while a further 50 000 are estimated to be in need of the life-prolonging drugs, giving a coverage of 54 percent.

The Minister said children coverage was almost similar to adults ART coverage of 52 percent.

There are nearly 180 000 adults living with HIV and Aids on ARVs against an estimated 350 000 in need of the drugs.

"Our health care workers at selected institutions continue to receive training in the detection and management of HIV infection, opportunistic infections diagnosis and management and ARVs," he said.

Minister Madzorera said these services would this year be decentralised to ensure access to the programs by all especially children. Most children are failing to access treatment because their parents or guardians are not forthcoming to have their children tested. However, other organisations in the country have taken it upon themselves to identify sickly children within communities and assist them to get tested with consent from their guardians.
This has contributed largely to more children benefiting from the ARV programme.

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