SC 2015-12 - Thematic Committee on HIV & AIDS on the ART Roll Out Programme in Some Health Institutions in Harare

Introduction
The Zimbabwean Government declared HIV and AIDS a national disaster in 2002, this required the government to deal with it as a high priority in terms of funding and management. The government implemented a policy of widespread information dissemination on HIV and AIDS, behavioural change and abstinence.

The teaching and encouragement of consistent and correct condom use has been carried out from 2002. In 2004 Anti Retro Virals (ARVs) were introduced in some government hospitals. The elimination of parent to child transmission plan was introduced thereafter. Option B plus has been introduced- where a pregnant woman who is found to be HIV positive must be initiated on lifelong treatment no matter what the CD4 count level is. It has been ten years since Anti Retroviral Therapy (ART) was introduced into a few health care institutions in Zimbabwe and the Committee decided to assess the progress of the programme in Harare.

Methodology
The Thematic Committee on HIV and AIDS had planned, as part of its work plan to assess the Anti Retroviral Therapy (ART) roll out programme in every province. However, as fact finding visits were only possible in locally, the Committee settled for assessment of the ART roll out programme in some Health care centres in Harare. The Committee held meetings where it heard oral evidence from the Ministry of Health and Child Care and National AIDS Council. It also visited Chikurubi Prison Hospital, Wilkins Hospital and Mabvuku and Mbare
Poly clinics. The Committee was given guided tours of these healthcare centres by the relevant officials and given information on the progress of the ART roll out programme. The Committee also heard oral evidence from the Zimbabwe National Network of People living with HIV and AIDS.

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