HIV testing and antenatal care in Zimbabwe

Just on the 16th of June 2016, a local news paper the chronicle reported that VILLAGERS in Gokwe in Midlands province were re allegedly being fined a goat by their chiefs if they fail to go for HIV testing or accompany their pregnant wives for antenatal care. This move is aimed at increasing testing and improving antenatal care. National Aids Council (Nac), Midlands provincial HIV and Aids coordinator, Mambewu Shumba said husbands are fined a goat by their chiefs for refusing to accompany their wives for PMTCT.

since this initiative by the chiefs who lead the coomunities, Gokwe North was doing well when it comes to fighting the scourge. The district was leading in terms of the prevention of mother to child transmission (PMTCT) of HIV. Gokwe North and South districts lead in the number of couples who go for HIV and AIDS testing. Husbands accompany their wives to the clinic for testing helping in the prevention of mother to child transmission. Chiefs also fine people who don’t go for testing as a means of enticing them to go for testing,” he said.







Comments