The Presidential Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) is targeting to reach 2.5 million with HIV testing and counseling services this year, a visiting United States of America official has said.
Speaking at media briefing at the PSI run New Start Centre in Harare on Tuesday, Deputy Assistant Secretary from the Bureau of African affairs at US State Department, Carol O’Connell said PEPFAR reached 1.9 million individuals with HIV testing and counselling in 2016 and has set sight on increasing the number to 2.5 million.
“In 2016, PEPFAR reached over 1.9 million individuals with HIV testing and counseling services and expects to reach over 2.5 million individuals in 2017 through revised strategies such as index testing, innovative interventions such as HIV self testing to reach older men and young adults and short term surge in human resources to increase provider initiated testing and couselling in facilities in 2017” she said.
PEPFAR has been implementing comprehensive HIV programs in Zimbabwe since 2006 with the goal of realizing an AIDS free generation.
O’Connell also highlighted that the existing relationship between Zimbabwe and US was the reason why she visited the country.
“We are looking for the Zimbabwe leadership and government to make political and economic changes so that we can be more robustly in engaging with the country”, she said.
She added that US is still much supportive despite the changes in administration and that Africa has a phenomenal opportunity and will be highly engaged. “The US through PEPFAR and PMI are pledging over $150 million will be used over the next 12 months to reach 2, 5 million tested”, she said. “We are also looking forward to increase that amount in 2018 improve medical service”.
