Bulawayo’s HIV prevention efforts have been hit by shortages of condoms and limited access to pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) following the withdrawal of donor funding, with councillors calling for the city to develop a new strategy to curb HIV infections.
This is contained in the Health, Housing and Education Committee report, where councillors questioned the availability of HIV prevention services in communities including Pumula and Magwegwe.
Council’s Director of Health Services, Dr Edwin Sibanda-Mzingwane, said the reduction in condom supplies was directly linked to the withdrawal of donor support, including United States foreign health assistance.
“The decrease in condom supply was a result of the withdrawal of donor funding such as the United States foreign health aid,” the director said.
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Access to PrEP, a medication taken by HIV-negative people to reduce their risk of acquiring the virus, has also been affected after the programme lost its USAID funding.
“PrEP was funded by USAID,” the director said.
The funding disruptions have raised concerns among councillors about the city’s ability to prevent new infections, particularly in communities where HIV prevention needs remain high.
Ward 29 Councillor Royini Sekete questioned what council was doing to maintain access to condoms and PrEP.
“Recent reports from the National AIDS Council indicate that Pumula and Magwegwe have become HIV hotspots. What progress has council made in the distribution of condoms and PrEP in these areas?” Sekete asked.
Council said it plans to increase the number of municipal clinics offering PrEP as part of efforts to close the prevention gap.
“More council clinics would be introduced to this activity of distributing PrEP,” the director said.
Ward 2 Councillor Adrian Redani Moyo said the situation should prompt council to reassess its approach to preventing new HIV infections.
“This is a wake-up call to council’s health systems,” he said.
Moyo said council had previously worked with non-governmental organisations, including OPHID, to provide treatment, care and support to people living with HIV through community health workers.
He called for a deliberate strategy focused on preventing new infections rather than relying mainly on existing treatment and support programmes.
“Council should have a strategy to deal with new HIV infections,” Moyo said.
Councillors also raised concerns about social and community activities they believe could increase HIV risk in Pumula and Magwegwe.
Ward 17 Councillor Sikhululekile Moyo linked the reported HIV concerns to the mushrooming of illegal nightclubs and called for targeted awareness campaigns.
“The mushrooming of illegal night clubs in Pumula and Magwegwe is one of the contributing factors to the spread of HIV,” she said.
She urged council to intensify public awareness and ensure residents were informed about prevention options, particularly amid reported condom shortages.
Moyo also called for residents to regularly test for HIV and practise safer sex.
Ward 19 Councillor Lazarus Mpadwe separately raised concerns about what he described as “bush churches” operating in the two suburbs.
Mpadwe alleged that some activities at secluded religious sites involved risky sexual behaviour, although he did not provide evidence directly linking the activities to HIV transmission.
“I am worried about bush churches in Magwegwe and Pumula areas. These churches are also a vehicle of HIV transmission in those areas,” he said.
He called for council to enforce its by-laws against the establishment of church shrines in bushy areas.
The Director of Health Services urged residents to continue using multiple HIV prevention measures, including consistent and correct condom use, regular HIV testing and reducing sexual risk.
“It is necessary for residents to continue practising safe sex, that is, abstaining, using condoms every time and correctly during intercourse,” the official said.
“It is also important to constantly test for HIV and to stick to one faithful sexual partner,” the official added.
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