Tinaani Nyabereka

Gweru- The HIV/AIDS pandemic has left a negative impact on vulnerable populations such as People with Disabilities (PWDs) who for years have been lagging behind in HIV /AIDS response.
The development has resulted in PWDs who live with HIV being sidelined in communities as they become passive recipients of Sexual Reproductive Health Services (SRHS).
Speaking to TellZim News during an interview last week, Beat Non Communicable Diseases Zimbabwe (BeatNCDs) director Jacob Ngwenya said it was now being commonly and wrongly perceived that PWDs are generally at a low risk of HIV infections.
“PWDs are incorrectly believed to be sexually inactive, unlikely to use drugs or alcohol and at low risk of violence and rape than their non-disabled peers. PWDs are among the most stigmatized, poorest and the least educated of the world’s citizens thereby exposing them to the HIV epidemic.
“The rights based approach which recognizes the socio-economic impact of disability has since been adopted but the disability community still lags behind when it comes to HIV issues. Sexual and reproductive health services for this community are generally not available and deliberately not targeted to them reinforcing the notion that they are asexual or not sexually active.
“People with disabilities often experience increased risk factors associated with acquiring HIV including poverty, increased vulnerability to sexual violence and abuse, limited access to education and healthcare and lack the information and resources needed to facilitate safer sex. The harmful mythical practices of treating sexually transmitted diseases by sleeping with a virgin have exposed a lot of girls and women with disability to rape and abuse,” he said.
Ngwenya further said health service providers are however turning a deaf ear on PWDs.
“Health providers are turning a deaf ear on PWDs, perpetrators take advantage of those who can’t see as they can’t be eye witnesses in court. At the end of the day these people won’t even bother to report to the police and proper investigations fail to commence due to the barriers at hand.
“Women with physical disability are also targeted as they are known to be highly likely to be defenseless. The assumption is that these risk factors are compounded by Covid-19 induced travel restrictions which saw some victims who were locked down with the perpetrators who routinely sexually abused them. Disability advocates and activists tend to shy away from HIV/AIDS issues though they rarely deal with sexual reproductive health issues. Equally the same HIV advocates and activists shy away from disability issues.
“Let me say HIV and disability are also linked as people can develop disabilities as a result of the progression of HIV or due to the side-effects of antiretroviral treatment (ART). There is growing evidence that people with disability are at higher risk of HIV infection than people who are not disabled,” he added.
Young Voice Disability Zimbabwe Director Nyasha Mahwende said a lot of changes were at hand as National Aids Council (NAC) was now training and working with PWDs in most HIV /AIDS response mechanisms.
“As people with disabilities for long we were being sidelined. It was just recently when we noticed that the NAC has started to train PWDs so that we educate our fellow peers about HIV and SRH. We are very happy as our presence is now being recognized.
“We are happy that two of our youth with disabilities including myself are part of the peer educators team moving on a community sensitization based initiative.
“Back then we used to be left out, I don’t know what people thought about us like we are not sexually active or don’t get affected when it comes to sexual related issues. We are people like everyone else and we need our health and welfare to be prioritized. We are now part of the HIV/AIDS response programme and I hope more will be done to recruit more PWDs as peer educators,” she said.

Tendai Charumbira

A gang of six armed robbers pounced on Shokoni business center in Chivi before proceeding to Petro Trade at Chibi growth point on June 13, 2022 and got away with several items including cash and motor vehicle among others.

Masvingo provincial police spokesperson Inspector Kudakwashe Dhewa confirmed the incident and said the gang is still at large.

“We have received information concerning the robbery and investigations are in going but so far no arrests have been made,” said Dhewa.

The incident occurred at around 1300hrs.

Circumstances are that Jerifanosi Tsikira (69) was in his house with his family when three accused persons entered while the other three remained outside.

They demanded money from him and he gave them US$30 but they demanded for more to which Tsikira declined.

Tsikira was shot once in the right thigh and his wife was shot once on the right angle.

The wife then gave the robbers ZAR 3 000 and US$ 370 USD$ before they took her husband’s phone and demanded for car keys.

The accused persons drove off in Tsikira’s Honda Fit.

Tsikira reported the matter at Chibi police.

One source at Shokoni business centre said the robbers left behind a Fun Cargo vehicle believed to have been hijacked at Ngundu before grabbing Tsikira’s Honda Fit.

On the same day at around 1400hrs, the robbers approached Petro Trade at Chibi growth point driving the Honda Fit they intended to refuel.

Petrol attendant identified as Reason Chigamba (50) attended to them. One of the accused persons pointed a gun at Chigamba demanding money and dragged the latter to an office. Chigamba gave them US$1 520, before they took US$60 and ZAR 100 from one of the workers and they drove away.

PETRO Trade is operating at a service station that belongs to Chivi Central legislator Ephraim Gwanongodza.

Last year armed robbers attacked Shongamiti business person Tafara Gudoshava demanding money before shooting him to death for failing to give in to their demands.

…as NCDs contributes to 71% global deaths annually

Tinaani Nyabereka

Gweru-Health experts have urged government to ensure easy access to health services in the fight against non-communicable diseases.
Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are diseases that are not transmitted from one person to another.
These diseases are also known as chronic diseases as they are long lasting and progressive due to complex interaction of genetic, physiological, environmental and behavioral factors.
Speaking to this publication during an interview on June5, Zimbabwe Professional Nurses Union (ZPNU) president and health expert Robert Chiduku said it was unfortunate that the country’s health sector was struggling to contain NCDs due to economic hardships.
“Diseases such hypertension, asthma, kidney diseases, diabetes mellitus among others are posing a threat to the health of ordinary Zimbabweans, who cannot afford to fund their medical bills.
Public health institutions have no drugs and diagnostic equipment, forcing citizens to go for private sector players who charge exorbitant prices to ordinary citizens.
“Government should ensure public health financing and allocate enough money on health budget which should meet or exceed the 15percent Abuja declaration. Strong health policies remain one of the key drivers to prevent and control non communicable diseases,” Chiduku said.
When African Union member states met in Abuja, Nigeria, in April 2001, they committed to allocate 15percent of their government budgets to health because more resources were required to address pressing health challenges including HIV and AIDS, Malaria and Tuberculosis.
Founder and director of Beat Non Communicable Diseases Zimbabwe (BeatNCDs Zim) a network of people Living with NCDs Jacob Ngwenya however said five major types of diseases which the health institution was battling were mainly cardiovascular diseases such as heart failures and strokes, diabetes, cancer as well as chronic respiratory diseases such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and asthma alongside mental health.
Ngwenya further said there was need to increase taxes on tobacco, alcohol, sugar sweetened beverages as efforts to create an enabling environment to quit smoking and drinking alcohol alongside other illicit drugs.
“NCDs are not limited to these five conditions but there are more like chronic kidney disease, skeletal diseases such as arthritis, oral health disorders, obesity and auto immune disorders among many. These diseases are large contributors to disability and death.
“They contribute to at least 71% of all deaths globally per annum. This translate to the fact that NCDs contribute seven out of the world’s top ten killer diseases. NCDs also contribute about four out of five lived years with disability. NCDs are impacting negatively on our families, communities and countries health wise as well as economically such that we can’t afford to ignore them. Despite the diversity of these diseases, they all have the same risk factors both modifiable and non-modifiable.
“Not much can be done on non-modifiable risk factors such as age, ethnicity, sex and make-up but we can deal with modifiable risk factors so that we can delay the onset of the NCDs. The modifiable risk factors for NCDs are poor nutrition inclusive of poor dietary habits, physical inactivity, use of tobacco, improper use of alcohol and unhealthy environment,” Ngwenya said.
However findings obtained by the Beat Non Communicable Diseases Zimbabwe Network reveal that, non-communicable diseases have of late been fuelled by population aging and changes in lifestyle among other issues.
He said one thing people should understand about NCDs was that they had become an epidemic of their age culminating into a pandemic in slow motion, adding that NCDs could largely be prevented by adopting a healthy lifestyle which requires more than just personal determination.
“For example when wholesome food is more expensive and unavailable than junk food, when physical activity is a challenge, when parks and recreational facilities are not safe or properly equipped in some cases destroyed as the looming takeover of Gweru Sports Club and dilapidated state of Gweru City Council owned youth centers it becomes a challenge.
“The government should ensure access to health services to its population including access to early detection of disease, diagnosis, treatment provided without discrimination and without undue financial hardship.
“People must be provided with information and support that empowers them to manage their conditions which give them greater control over their health and to the health of their families. This way we can all prevent this epidemic from getting worse and enjoy longer and productive lives,” he added.

Faith Duri

Delayed approval of a corporate license from the Ministry of Health and Child Care is stalling the official opening of Runyararo West Clinic which was supposed to function during the first week of June 2022.
In an interview with TellZim on June 06, 2022 Masvingo Mayor Clr Collen Maboke said all is set for the clinic to open doors but delays by the Ministry of Health and Child Care is pushing them back.
“All is set for the clinic to open but we are now waiting for the approval of the corporate license from the Ministry of Health,” said Maboke.
Town Clerk Engineer Edward Mukaratirwa also added that all is set for the clinic to open except for these delays.
“We have since finished the recruitment of workers only the delays of the approval of the license is delaying us to officially open the clinic.
“The earlier they approve the earlier we are going to open,” added Eng Mukaratirwa.
The health center was supposed to open during the first week of June as was stated by Engineer Mukaratirwa on May 17, 2022.
“The relevant authority has already approved the opening of the clinic but right now we are in the process of recruiting workers .We are almost done so except the clinic to be functional first week of June,” he said.
The much-awaited opening will offer relief to residents from the city’s western suburbs like Runyararo West and Victoria Range among others who endure the pain of travelling long distances at access health care services.
Corporate license means access to the licensed technology with one licensee’s brand running on a dedicated and highly secured server for the term of the agreement.
The corporate license is valid for all company sites of the users employed by the company, including all associated companies.