VP Mnangagwa to open ICASA

29 Nov, 2015 - 00:11 0 Views
VP Mnangagwa  to open ICASA

The Sunday Mail

Sunday Mail Reporter
Vice-President Emmerson Mnangagwa will today officially open the International Conference on Aids and STIs at the Harare International Conference Centre, as the United Nations praised Government for “outstanding leadership” in managing the pandemic.
President Robert Mugabe, who is is in France for the 21st Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, had previously been slated to open ICASA.
Yesterday, Minister Health and Child Care Minister Dr David Parirenyatwa invited all Cabinet ministers and senior Government officials to Africa’s largest Aids conference.
“The Honourable Minister of Health and Child Care Dr Pagwesese David Parirenyatwa would like to invite fellow hon ministers, deputy ministers, permanent secretaries and principal directors to the opening ceremony of the International Conference on Aids and STIs in AFRICA on Sunday 29th November 2015 from 1700hours-2000hours,” reads part of the statement.
“Invitees or guest must be seated by 1730 hours. The conference will be opened by the Hon Vice-President ED Mnangagwa.”
At least 5 000 delegates have been accredited for the conference themed “Aids in post-2015 Era: Linking leadership, Science and Human Rights”.
Several experts will discuss bio-medical advances, elimination of mother-to-child transmission of HIV and achieving the United Nations targets of ensuring 90 percent of the world’s population know their status.
The conference will see the World Health Organisation announce new recommendations on treatment and management of HIV and Aids.
Community participation in responding to HIV will also come under the spotlight at the event that is also playing host to a community village to be officially opened by Cameroonian soccer star Samuel Eto’o.
Zimbabwe has made great strides in containing HIV and Aids, a feat recognised by the UN.
Yesterday, UN Resident Co-ordinator M. Bishow Parajuli said: “The UN is pleased to be represented in this event that provides a golden opportunity to showcase Zimbabwe’s robust national response to challenges posed by HIV, and the value of effective international partnerships and cooperation that are the hallmark of the country’s shining example.
“We urge the international community to stay the course in supporting Zimbabwe to consolidate the phenomenal gains made in the last decade and achieve its goals under the National HIV and AIDS Strategic Plan and other priorities.”
With support from the UN and other partners, Government increased the number of HIV-positive people on antiretroviral therapy from 363 261 in 2010 to 854 181 by September 2015. According to 2013 HIV estimates, deaths averted by the ART programme rose from 624 in 2004 to 45 422 in 2013.
Further, the percentage of HIV-positive pregnant women who received ART to reduce risk of mother-to-child-transmission increased from 85,4 percent in 2010 to 89 percent in 2014, according to the Health Ministry.
“The Government’s commitment to leaving no one behind will be vital in ensuring that services reach all those key populations most affected by Aids in Zimbabwe,” said Mr Michael Bartos, head of UNAIDS in Zimbabwe, in a UN statement.

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