Tongogara camp making progress in fight against HIV – Newsday Zimbabwe

TONGOGARA Refugee Camp

TONGOGARA Refugee Camp is reportedly making progress in HIV prevention and management, with more than 100 inmates receiving antiretroviral therapy (ART).

Tongogara Camp settlement manager Johanne Mhlanga said they provide inmates with patient screening, treatment, vaccinations, HIV and AIDS interventions, as well as maternal and reproductive health services.

“I must emphasize that we have 113 people on ART who are receiving support from our health professionals in the settlement,” Mhlanga told reporters on Tuesday. he said.

“I must also emphasize that we continue to receive assistance from the Ministry of Health and Child Care as well as the National Assistance Council (NAC).”

They also provide services related to preventing mother-to-child transmission of HIV, he said.

“In partnership with NAC, we implemented interventions for 50 young girls and young women and sisters who were working to raise awareness about sexual reproductive health, HIV and AIDS in the settlement,” he said.

“The idea behind the interventions is to encourage girls and women to get tested, as well as to encourage health-seeking behavior in young women.”

Mhlanga said they also prepared special programs for boys “to increase knowledge about HIV and Aids.”

“Importantly, the intervention also aims to increase young men’s health-seeking behavior as well as combating drug and substance abuse among boys and young men in the residential area,” he said.

However, Rugare Marambire, brother in charge of Tongogara Clinic, pointed out the difficulties they face in tracking down defaulters.

“We have ways of trying to follow up to make sure we catch the customer who maybe doesn’t show up on the given date,” he said.

“We have village health workers, peers, community-based care consultants, and you see the community is within a very small area.

“The patient needs to take his tablet on the 4th and if it does not come on the 4th, 5th or 6th, we can follow up and follow up.”

Zimbabwe recorded the success of the 95-95-95 targets through a series of interventions that were also used within the institution.

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