Africa-Press – Zimbabwe. ZIMBABWE has reduced the mother-to-child HIV transmission rate to 6,4%, just slightly above the 5% global target for 2026.
Speaking during a national validation committee meeting held in Harare on Wednesday, Health and Child Care minister Douglas Mombeshora reaffirmed the nation’s commitment to achieving global health targets.
He said the country was making strides towards eliminating mother-to-child transmission of HIV, syphilis and hepatitis B, positioning itself as a global leader in the fight to end Aids as a public health threat.
“Our commitment is clear. We will continue to invest in prevention, treatment, and community-driven approaches to ensure that no child in Zimbabwe is born with HIV,” Mombeshora said.
“We have made encouraging progress. HIV prevalence is declining and nearly all pregnant women are now tested and treated for syphilis.
“Efforts at hepatitis B elimination are also gathering momentum, though more work is needed, especially on testing and the birth dose vaccine.”
UNAids country representative Henry Damisoni praised the country’s gains in HIV management.
“With respect to the HIV response, Zimbabwe remains a global beacon in terms of achievements,” he said.
“Zimbabwe is the lead globally on the 95-95-95 targets and that is not a mean achievement.”
Unicef country representative Etona Ekole described the milestone as more than just statistics.
“It is a reflection of the country’s unwavering commitment to protecting the health and the future of its children,” she said.
WHO national professional officer for HIV, Precious Andifasi, pointed to Zimbabwe’s innovation in prevention.
“We are delighted that Zimbabwe is one of the early adopter countries for the six-monthly HIV prevention injection, which is a potential game-changer in HIV prevention,” he remarked.
Zimbabwe has previously earned global acclaim for being among the first countries to achieve the 95-95-95 goals. The UN goals mean ensuring that 95% of people living with HIV know their status, 95% of those diagnosed are on treatment and 95% of those on treatment achieved viral suppression.
Health experts said the elimination of mother-to-child transmission would not only secure the health of newborns, but ensure the next generation is free from preventable infections.
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