THE country has enough anti-retroviral drugs for 10 months in stock so do not panic, Health and Child Care minister Douglas Mombeshora has said.

Addressing stakeholders at the Candle Lighting Memorial event to remember those who died and those who have fought hard to change the lives of the affected at Umzingwane High School this Sunday, Mombeshora said the government was ready to provide the life prolonging medication to all those living with HIV and Aids.

The minister was responding to cries made by some stakeholders relating to the withdrawal of funding towards health programmes by the United States government early this year.

Zimbabwe joins the rest of the world today, December 1 of every year in commemorating the World Aids Day (WAD).

This year’s local theme is: “We Remember , We Rise, We Lead.”

“We are here together. We are together in a fight to end Aids by 2030.

“You should not be worried about the withdrawal of finance for some of our programmes.

“The government through the National AIDS Council (NAC) has made sure some of the challenges to fight HIV and AIDS will not continue,” Mombeshora said.

“When an announcement was made that the US government had cut its funding, there was anxiety amongst those on anti-retroviral (ART) program. But I want to react, we have stocks of every line of ARTl for not less than 10 months. So there is no way that we will shut down.

“We have already started procurement processes to make sure we have a 12 months supply.There is no need for everyone to panic.There is no need to undertake your prescriptions. So relax,” Mombeshora said.

Referring to the Candle Lighting memorial, Mombeshora said it was not only a moment of remembrance, but also a moment of reflection, unity, and renewed commitment.

“We gather to honor the lives we have crossed, to support those who continue to live courageously with HIV, and to reaffirm our shared determination to end AIDS as a public health plan in Zimbabwe.

He highlighted that the lnternational AIDS catalog was also one of the oldest and most meaningful grassroots mobilization events in the world.

“It still reminds us that the HIV response is not merely about programs, policies, or statistics. It is about people. It is about communities.

“And today, we stand together as governments of civil society, development partners, and communities living with HIV.”

He stated that he stood in solidarity with all people living with HIV.

“Our responsibility is not only general, it is also a moral responsibility.

“Over the years, the role of communities has become increasingly central to our work. We recognize that communities are not peripheral actors. They are the heart of HIV response.

“From village health workers to treatment supporters, from community advocates to peer educators, your leadership and your lived experiences guide us and the ministry values those voices of people living with HIV, and we continue to ensure that these voices are heard at every level of audience information, program design, and implementation.”

Among other achievements in HIV and Aids response, the country has surpassed the U.N.A. 95-95-95 tackle as national level, thanks to the combined efforts of the Ministry, communities, and partners.

More than 95% of people living with HIV in Zimbabwe are on anti-electroviral treatment whilst modern child transmission of HIV has dramatically declined, placing Zimbabwe firmly on the path towards elimination.

“We have expanded access to viral load testing, pre-exposure prophylaxis, differentiated service delivery models, and community-led service delivery as we continue to strengthen prevention strategies to improve the future of interesting innovation, expanded core programming, and the target of intervention for young people and key environmental organizations,” he added.

Mombeshora said these milestones were testament to what becomes possible when the nation commits itself wholeheartedly to public health, dignity, and human rights.

The minister, however, said government was committed to ensure that the fight against stigma and discrimination remains a priority at all levels of society.

As Zimbabwe commemmorates the WAD, Mombeshora told stakeholders that ,”Each flag represents a story, a family, a memory, and a promise, a promise that we will not relent until HIV is no longer a threat to our nation’s world being.
“Let these candles remind us that even if we drift, they fall. Even in darkness, there is hope.”