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Zimbabwe Making Giant Strides in Tackling HIV/ADS, Meeting MDG Goals


Zimbabwe says it is making giant strides in combating HIV/AIDS and meeting Millenium Development Goals. (Photo: Courtesy WHO)
Zimbabwe says it is making giant strides in combating HIV/AIDS and meeting Millenium Development Goals. (Photo: Courtesy WHO)

The director of the AIDS and Tuberculosis Unit in the Health and Child Care Ministry, Dr. Owen Mugurungi, says government has made significant strides in combating the HIV/AIDS pandemic and is meeting the health millenium development goals set by the United Nations.

Dr. Mugurungi points to the reduction in the HIV prevalence rate, mother to child transmission and access to drugs. The millenium development goals are eight specific development targets set in 2010 that all 192 United Nations member states and at least 23 international organizations have agreed to achieve by this year.

The sixth goal focuses on combating HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases. But activists are warning that the worsening economic crisis will reverse the gains.

Finance Minister Patrick Chinamasa says at least 4,500 companies have closed since 2011, sending more than 55,443 employees onto the streets.

Dr. Mugurungi told VOA Studio 7 he is pleased by the progress Harare is making and feels that Zimbabwe is on track in meeting its 2015 millenium goals addressing HIV/AIDS.

But coordinator of the international community of women living with HIV in Zimbabwe, Martha Tolana, said economic problems are eroding the gains the government has made over the years.

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