Zimbabwe

Key Results

Zimbabwe’s parliament repealed section 79 of the Criminal Law Code, which criminalizes HIV transmission.
36 000 pregnant and breastfeeding women living with HIV accessed prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV and ART.
More than 1.7 million students received comprehensive sexuality education in schools.
171 000 people had voluntary medical male circumcisions.
Through the SASA! community mobilization approach, over 100 000 women and men improved their knowledge around gender and violence.

Joint Programme Results

In 2022, Zimbabwe’s parliament repealed section 79 of the Criminal Law Code, which criminalizes HIV transmission and undermines efforts to reduce new HIV infections, following sustained advocacy and technical support by the Joint Team and other partners (UNDP, UN Women, UNAIDS Secretariat). In addition, the Medicines Control Authority of Zimbabwe approved long-acting injectable cabotegravir (CAB-LA) and Dipivefrine Vaginal Ring as pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) for HIV prevention and rolled out pilot projects in six sites throughout the country (UNDP, WHO).

Community-led programmes extended HIV prevention services and information to 7141 men who have sex with men. Additionally, 1978 men who have sex with men received HIV testing, of whom 39 people tested HIV positive and 930 men who have sex with men were enrolled on PrEP (UNFPA). In refugee camps, 1855 (1513 females) adult refugees and asylum seekers accessed HIV testing and counselling services, of whom 11 people tested HIV positive and enrolled on antiretroviral treatment (UNHCR).

The latest national treatment guidelines were aligned with the revised Operational and Service Delivery Manual for the Prevention, Care and Treatment of HIV in Zimbabwe (OSDM) to improve access and quality of these services (WHO). In addition, 36 000 pregnant and breastfeeding women and 51 children and adolescents living with HIV accessed prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV (PMTCT) and antiretroviral treatment services from 103 healthcare workers who completed their training on the new treatment guidelines (UNICEF). Differentiated service delivery models further eased access to antiretroviral treatment and improved the health outcomes among 46% of the people living with HIV in 2022 (WHO).

Key contributions by the Joint Team strengthened access to HIV, sexual and reproductive health and rights education and gender-based violence services among adolescents, young people, and key populations. For example, more than 1.7 million students received comprehensive sexuality education in schools and 30 000 adolescent girls and young people accessed comprehensive HIV prevention packages (UNFPA); 171 000 people (60% adolescent boys and young men) had voluntary medical male circumcisions (UNFPA, WHO) and as part of the Safer Together campaign, 4200 HIV test kits, 3000 lubricants, 6600 male and female condoms and 5000 information materials were distributed to adolescent and young people (UNAIDS Secretariat). Furthermore, young people from key populations participated in the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) of the Human Rights Council with support from the Joint Team. As a result, the Government pledged to address two UPR recommendations, protecting intersex minors from non-consensual surgeries and strengthening efforts to address violence against all persons based on their sexual orientation, gender identity and expression. An increasing number of decision-makers also committed to addressing human rights issues of young people from sexual and gender minority groups (UNDP, UNAIDS Secretariat).

Through the SASA! community mobilization approach, 81 200 women and 33 100 men improved their knowledge of community attitudes, norms, and behaviours around gender, violence, and vulnerability to HIV infections, empowering to prevent violence against women in collaboration with the National AIDS Council. In Matobo rural district, active participation of 3220 people, including adolescent girls and women living with HIV and people with disabilities in local decision-making forms and advocacy for gender-based violence services resulted in improved access to services among these groups. As part of the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence campaign and the health service fair in Hopley and Mibire districts, 798 women accessed sexual reproductive health services, 148 women had cervical cancer screening, 37 women accessed HIV testing services and 18 women received psychosocial support. Finally, 76 community leaders received orientation and information on holding men perpetrating violence against women accountable and support women who experienced violence in partnership with the National AIDS Council (UN Women).