Zimbabwe Makes Strides in Reducing Mother-to-Child HIV Transmission

Southerton Business Times
Sep 8
2 min read

Smiling woman holds a child against a red-brick wall. The woman wears a patterned dress; the child is in a blue, patterned outfit. Warm mood. — Zimbabwe reduces mother-to-child HIV transmission to 6.4% (Image Source)

Zimbabwe has reduced its mother-to-child HIV transmission rate to 6.4%, edging closer to the World Health Organization (WHO) elimination target of below 5% by 2026. The progress, announced at a national validation committee meeting, reflects the country’s steady leadership in Africa’s fight against HIV.

Hitting the Global Benchmarks

Zimbabwe is one of the few countries to meet the UNAIDS 95-95-95 targets:

95% of people living with HIV know their status.
95% of those diagnosed are receiving treatment.
95% of those on treatment have achieved viral suppression.

Health Minister Douglas Mombeshora credited the achievement to community-driven interventions and sustained investment in prevention and treatment. Zimbabwe is also among the early adopters of the new six-monthly HIV prevention injection, described by WHO’s Dr. Precious Andifasi as a “game-changer” for reducing new infections. Additionally, the National AIDS Council (NAC) has scaled up access to pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) for high-risk mothers and is running awareness campaigns in both urban and rural communities.

Grassroots Leadership in Action

In Gokwe South, traditional leaders like Headman Katema have become vocal advocates for safer maternal health practices:“Home deliveries must stop. Every expecting mother must deliver at a clinic or hospital.”

This grassroots mobilisation has been key to reducing infant HIV infections and maternal mortality rates.

Recognition and Remaining Challenges

UNAIDS Country Representative Henry Damisoni hailed Zimbabwe as a “global beacon,” while UNICEF’s Etona Ekole stressed that the achievement is not just statistical but life-changing for children born free of HIV.

Despite progress, adolescent girls and young women remain disproportionately vulnerable. Addressing stigma, poverty, and gender inequality is critical to sustaining gains. If Zimbabwe maintains its current trajectory, it could become one of the first countries in the region to achieve WHO validation for the elimination of mother-to-child HIV transmission.