Online Reporter
THE National Aids Council (NAC) has integrated non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in its treatment of HIV/AIDS for elderly people.
This follows a recent research conducted by NAC, which shows an increase in NCDs in the elderly population living with HIV and AIDS over the past few years.
Speaking during a media tour organised by NAC on Monday, the council’s Mashonaland Central provincial manager Mr Edgar Muzulu said NCDs such as cancer and diabetes were an emerging threat to elderly people living with HIV and AIDS.
“Zimbabwe is one of the countries in Southern and Eastern Africa that has successfully initiated and rolled out anti-retroviral treatment (ART) over the past decades,” he said.
“However, we have realised that over the years, the elderly who are on ART are now being diagnosed with NCDs such as cancer, diabetes and hypertension.
“So we have integrated the treatment of HIV/AIDS in our elderly population here in Mashonaland Central.”
Mr Muzulu said community health workers working with NAC have been empowered with medical equipment for screening hypertension and diabetes in people living with HIV and AIDS.
“We have trained our community health workers to screen for hypertension and diabetes and refer those needing medical assistance to professionals,” he said.
