Moving Toward Elimination in Zimbabwe
Posted by
Agnes Mahomva
Harare, Zimbabwe
January 24, 2011
Just a few days ago, we launched an exciting
partnership in Zimbabwe: the first year of a five-year, $45 million grant that will dramatically expand our efforts to eliminate pediatric AIDS throughout the country.
Foundation President and CEO Charles Lyons speaks at
an event in Harare, Zimbabwe on January 20, 2011.
The Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation began working in
Zimbabwe ten years ago – at just three sites, to bring critical services to the women of Zimbabwe to prevent transmission of HIV to their babies. That was a time when creating a generation free of HIV was not a high priority – the demand instead was to get lifesaving services to as many women as possible, as the HIV/AIDS epidemic was devastating the country.
A decade later, with the support of, and collaboration with,
Zimbabwe’s Ministry of Health and Child Welfare, the
U.S. Agency for International Development, the
Department for International Development, and others, today the Foundation works in 815 sites and has reached more than 800,000 women with prevention, care, and treatment services.
But there are more women, children and families who still need our help. That’s why last week’s event was so exciting In just ten years, we have gone from humble beginnings to being in a position to realize the elimination of pediatric AIDS in Zimbabwe.
With the support of all of our partners, we aim to double our impact in Zimbabwe and reach every district with HIV/AIDS prevention, care, and treatment services. Using the
2010 World Health Organization guidelines for providing prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV services, we will also work hard to make sure that every woman is getting the best quality care.
The task ahead is formidable, but it is achievable. We have the science, we have the medicines. Together, we can eliminate pediatric AIDS here in Zimbabwe and throughout the world.
Agnes Mahomva is the Foundation’s Country Director in Zimbabwe.