Don’t leave men behind in HIV response

ZIMBABWE has made significant gains in the response to HIV as it has recorded reductions in
maternal mortality, AIDS related deaths and new HIV infections.
About 1.3 million people aged 15-64 years are living with HIV in Zimbabwe.
In Zimbabwe, new HIV infections have declined by more than 80 percent since the late 1990s in a
context of continuous build-up of a combination prevention response – a process that started with
the scale-up of HIV prevention communications emphasising risk reduction and of condom
programming.
Nevertheless, Zimbabwe is one of a handful of African countries that reached the UNAIDS’s 90-90-90
targets in 2020 and is now aiming to reach the 95-95-95 and this can be achieved through the
engagement and participation of men and boys in the national HIV, SRHR and GBV responses.
The 95-95-95 targets must be reached by 2025 in order to end AIDS by 2030.
The goal is to ensure 95 percent of all people living with HIV know their status, 95 percent of all
people diagnosed with HIV infection receive sustained anti-retroviral therapy (ART) and 95 percent
of all people receiving ART have viral suppression by 2025.
In the 95-95-95 targets, men are lagging behind compared to women, hence the strategy to involve
men for equity and effective HIV epidemic control.
Men are increasingly at risk and vulnerable to HIV and AIDS due to low rates of HIV testing, male
circumcision, condom use, and comprehensive knowledge of HIV and enrolment on Anti-Retroviral
Therapy.
No men should be left behind in Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) programmes.
SRHR programming should directly target men, calling them to change dangerous sexual practices
such as having multiple sexual partners and under-utilizing condoms whilst also encouraging them to
become involved in the maternal and neonatal health of partners and children.
The other key population which should not be left behind is that of men who have sex with men
(MSM) experience a higher rate of HIV. It is illegal for men to have sex with men.
We have noted that testing for HIV is lower among men and young people.
It is a known fact that women are almost twice as likely to get HIV as men, and adolescent girls and
young women are particularly vulnerable, but there is need for authorities to prioritize high-impact
prevention interventions, including condom programming, injection and blood safety, behaviour
change communication and male circumcision.
The effective engagement of men and boys in the fight against HIV and AIDS is key in ending the
epidemic. Of late HIV and AIDS public health prevention and treatment campaigns have largely
focused on women and girls.
The launch of the Zimbabwe Male Engagement Strategy for HIV, Sexual Reproductive Health and
Rights (SRHR) and Gender Based Violence (GBV) by the National AIDS Council, will help strengthen
efforts towards increased engagement and participation of men and boys in the national HIV, SRHR
and GBV responses.