Zimbabwean Men at a higher risk of advanced HIV, warns ZNASP 2026–30 draft
- Southerton Business Times
- Feb 8
- 2 min read
By Staff Reporter — Harare, Zimbabwe
Zimbabwean men face a higher risk of developing advanced HIV and account for more AIDS‑related deaths, the draft Zimbabwe National HIV and AIDS Strategic Plan (ZNASP) 2026–30 warns. The draft links this disparity to lower health‑seeking behaviour among men, late treatment initiation, and persistent barriers such as stigma, discrimination, and restrictive laws.
Draft ZNASP 2026–30: “Men are more likely to start treatment late, often with advanced HIV disease, due to lower health‑seeking behaviour, which contributes to higher Aids mortality among men.”
Key findings and national picture
Higher AIDS mortality among men: Men and other at‑risk groups have lower testing coverage and often initiate treatment late, increasing the likelihood of advanced disease and death.
Viral suppression gaps: Viral suppression in children and young people is significantly lower than in adults.
Widespread stigma: The Stigma Index 2022 found 69.7% of people living with HIV (PLHIV) report experiencing stigma.
Geographic distribution: Urban centres such as Harare and Bulawayo host large numbers of PLHIV, while some rural border districts (notably in Matabeleland South) record higher infection rates.
High‑risk groups: Female sex workers, transgender people who inject drugs, prisoners in crowded conditions, miners, and truck drivers are among groups with elevated risk and service access barriers.
Prevalence trend: By 2024, 1,295,675 Zimbabweans were living with HIV, down from over 1.5 million a decade earlier, an improvement attributed to expanded treatment and prevention efforts.
Barriers driving late diagnosis and treatment for Zimbabwean Men
The draft identifies multiple, interacting obstacles that delay diagnosis and care:
Low health‑seeking behaviour among men is shaped by social norms and service models that do not meet men’s needs.
Stigma and discrimination deter testing, disclosure, and retention in care.
Legal and policy constraints that limit access for key populations.
Unpredictable donor funding, which undermines programme continuity and scale‑up.
Strategic priorities in ZNASP 2026–30
To close gaps and reduce AIDS mortality, the draft plan proposes targeted actions:
Scale up male‑friendly testing and treatment through workplace, community, and outreach services tailored to men.
Strengthen paediatric and adolescent services to raise viral suppression among children and young people.
Operationalise stigma‑reduction and legal reform initiatives to remove barriers for key populations.
Stabilise financing by diversifying funding sources and improving programme efficiency.
Enhance social protection and linkage systems to keep vulnerable households engaged in care.
What this means for policy and programmes
The draft ZNASP 2026–30 reframes the response around equity and targeted delivery: closing the male testing and treatment gap is essential to reduce AIDS deaths, while improving services for children, adolescents, and key populations will strengthen national viral‑suppression targets. Policymakers and implementers are urged to prioritise male‑friendly service design, anti‑stigma campaigns, legal reforms, and predictable financing to sustain progress.
Zimbabwean Men; risk of advanced HIV; ZNASP 2026–30 draft
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