Zimbabwe posts a decline in AIDS related deaths

The country is somewhat making steady progress in meeting MDG target for the fight against HIV/AIDS. As the country continues to alleviate and create more viable solutions especially for the rural folk where access to ARV drugs is concerned, one has focus on the success stories about the battle. There were a number of concerns that Zimbabwe had been off track and would fail to achieve the MDG that targets for the combat against HIV/AIDS, but thumps up to the country as it seems to be a bit on track.

In a 2013 preliminary report on HIV/AIDS estimates, looks like the 2015 target for access to ARV Therapy (ART) would not be met as anticipated.

A decline in HIV/AIDS related deaths could be attributed to an increase in ART access.

However, the country dipped 64. 7 percent in HIV/AIDS related deaths in the last decade. In 2003, the figures were pegged at 170 000 and dropped to about 60 000 in 2013. The number of deaths among children below 14 years plunged from 36 000 in 2003 to about 10 000 last year.

It is a good thing that HIV/AIDS related deaths have dropped but the fact that there is a difference of 110 000 doesn't make it good enough. We are talking about a gap of 110 000 in a space of ten years. According to the report, the figures went down from 50 230 in 2012 to 49 695 last year which can be translated to a disparity of 535, only. Ironically, while the country is celebrating about the significant decrease in HIV/AIDS related deaths and a drop in infection rate of about 0.13 percent, the HIV prevalence rate increased from about 12 percent in 2012 to 14.5 percent last year.

To wrap it up, I think that the above mentioned figures are a testimony of the fact that Zimbabwe is on track in the fight against HIV/AIDS even though the country trailing backwards in meeting MDG target on HIV/AIDS combat.