Harare Zimbabwe-14 December 2009-(SAfAIDS)-The National Partnership Platform, an information, dialogue and advocacy platform on HIV and TB in Zimbabwe will tomorrow (15 December 2009) host  a Discussion Forum  to explore the barriers to achieving universal access to HIV and AIDS prevention, treatment and care by 2010.

The discussion forum, which is a follow-up to national World AIDS Day celebrations held on 1 December 2000, in Victoria Falls, under the theme “Universal Access and Human Rights: Together We Can Make It,” presents a good opportunity to explore the barriers in achieving access for all.

Lindiwe Chaza-Jangira, National Director of Zimbabwe AIDS Network (ZAN) said the discussion on universal access and human rights is timely and relevant because it establishes an important link between political, economic and social rights. She said the ability to access health and HIV and AIDS services is a human right and therefore when barriers to such access exist, they form a violation of those rights.

“It is critical therefore, to link human rights to universal access in order to advance the agenda on the rights to health and HIV and AIDS services, including information, prevention, treatment, care and support, and mitigation,” Lindiwe said.

Monica Mandiki, Country Representative for Southern Africa HIV and AIDS and Information Dissemination Service (SAfAIDS) indicated that there have been several discussions on the issue of universal access, and what is needed now, is to bring policy makers and other decision makers to a platform where they can get a sense of what is happening on the ground.

Participants will be appraised on the challenges that people living with HIV, women, young people and children face in their daily lives.

The Director of the Zimbabwe National Network of People Living with HIV (ZNNP+), Dr Shoko, said people living with HIV (PLHIV) face many barriers to achieving universal access and his organisation is currently in the process of lobbying the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee and the Health Sector to keep their promise on universal access.

“We have also developed a partnership with the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights, so that we can use the legal process to promote the rights of PLHIV to equal treatment, right to property, access to food and the general welfare of PLHIV,” Dr Shoko said.

While it is encouraging that prevention and treatment initiatives have been scaled up and the national HIV prevalence has declined to 13.7 percent, there is still a long way to go.

Zimbabwe’s HIV prevalence remains one of the highest in the world, and the majority of those in need of antiretroviral treatment are not receiving it. By end of 2009 only 170 000 people out of 450 000 will  be accessing ART. The number of children who are on ARV treatment is even less.

Stigma surrounding HIV and AIDS remains one of the biggest obstacles to the effective treatment and care of people infected and affected by HIV.

The Director of The Centre, Fred Kachote, said the assumption in the country is that stigma attached to AIDS has gone down, but it continues to be a serious problem, especially in urban areas.

“People still think that HIV is for other people and not themselves. Three quarters of the people who come to seek support from The Centre have their HIV status diagnosed very late, after wasting time consulting traditional healers due to fear of stigma,” Kachote said.

Even though the government has passed the Domestic Violence Act to protect victims of domestic violence in light of the gender dimensions of the HIV and AIDS pandemic, many women are not using the law.

“The Domestic Violence Act is not being fully implemented because its contents have not been explained to many people throughout the country due to limited resources,” said Evince Mugumbate, the Information Manager for Women AIDS Support Network (WASN).

The partnership platform initiative is comprised of five organisations; the Zimbabwe AIDS Network, ZNNP+, WASN, The Centre and SAfAIDS. It aims to create an effective mechanism for the exchange of information and experience on HIV and TB among all stakeholders, increase unity and solidarity among civil society actors, and to provide a hub for critical advocacy activities and campaigns.