Staff Reporter
Government , in collaboration with UNICEF, is intensifying efforts to close HIV treatment gaps among children in Zimbabwe, focusing on expanding access to life-saving medication and integrating services for holistic care.
In a statement yesterday, UNICEF Zimbabwe Chief of HIV, Jackie Kabambe, emphasised the urgency of addressing paediatric HIV treatment gaps.
“We need to put children on treatment. Integration helps us reach them with holistic care. Bringing HIV treatment into broader child health services will help us find and support more children who need care,” Kabambe said.
Despite significant progress in Zimbabwe’s HIV response, children remain disproportionately affected, with treatment coverage lagging behind that of adults.
According to UNAIDS, only about 50 percent of children living with HIV in Zimbabwe are on treatment, compared to over 90 percent of adults.
This disparity is largely due to challenges in early diagnosis, weak linkages to care, and socio-economic barriers that prevent families from accessing health services.
Speaking on the sidelines of a recent health sector review meeting, Permanent Secretary for Health and Child Care, , Dr. Aspect Maunganidze, highlighted the need to enhance community-based interventions.
“We must work closely with communities to identify and support children in need of HIV treatment. Strengthening early infant diagnosis and ensuring uninterrupted ART supplies are critical steps toward ending paediatric AIDS,” he said.
Dr. Maunganidze also stressed the importance of training healthcare workers to improve service delivery stating, “Capacity building is key. Healthcare workers must be equipped to provide child-friendly HIV treatment and support.”
The new strategy focuses on integrating HIV treatment with maternal and child health services to ensure that children receive comprehensive care.
By incorporating HIV testing and treatment into routine immunisation and nutrition programs, health officials hope to improve early detection and treatment uptake.
Meanwhile, UNICEF has been at the forefront of advocating for child-friendly HIV services, including the introduction of paediatric formulations of antiretroviral drugs and decentralised treatment options.
The organisation has also been supporting Zimbabwe’s efforts to eliminate mother-to-child transmission of HIV, which remains a key driver of paediatric infections.
The initiative aligns with the country’s broader goal of achieving HIV epidemic control by 2030, as outlined in the National HIV and AIDS Strategic Plan.
With continued support from development partners, Government aims to ensure that no child is left behind in the fight against HIV, ultimately securing a healthier future for Zimbabwe’s younger generation.
