Introduction

HIV in Zimbabwe

In this case-study, we will analyze the problem of HIV in Zimbabwe by investigating HIV intervention programs like UNAIDs and the Global Fund which finance programs to prevent/reduce the spread of HIV. These programs fund highly successful intervention methods that reduce/prevent the spread of HIV; for example, the use of antiretroviral medicines such as PrEP, the use of clean needles and syringes, the use of female and male condoms and the spread of voluntary medical male circumcision (VMMC). These programs are very successful when implemented at a large systemic scale; the problem that Zimbabwe has and shares with other nations trying to fight the spread of the HIV virus is lack of government funding and a reluctance to address sensitive issues like young people’s reproductive health. These problems are difficult to overcome because they deal with a government’s inability to financially and/or culturally address the problem of HIV. To further understand the problem of HIV in Zimbabwe, we will try to get in contact with Zimbabwe’s Minister of Health and Child Care by email (pr.@mohc.gov.zw). We hope they can provide us with their personal assessment on Zimbabwe’s fight against HIV which we can use for our case-study. We will also try to contact Dr. Celeste Watkins-Hayes, a professor of Sociology and African American Studies and author of the book, “Remaking a Life, Reversing an Epidemic: HIV/AIDs and the Politics of Transformation.” If this does not work, we will use the annual reports from UNAIDS and Zimbabwe Minister of Health for our primary research. For our secondary research, we will use articles like “Governing Civil Society in Nigeria and Zimbabwe: A Question of Policy Process and Non-state Actor’s Involvement” by Grace Chikoto-Schultz and Kelechi Uzochukwu to further our background knowledge on how intervention methods from non-state agencies are received in Zimbabwe. We will also be using articles like “Addressing a Blind Spot in the Response to HIV- Reaching Out to Men and Boys” by UNAIDS to understand some of the social issues that have made combating HIV in Zimbabwe so difficult. 

Bibliography

Chikoto-Schultz, Grace and Kelechi Uzochukwu. 2016. “Governing Civil Society in Nigeria and Zimbabwe: A Question of Policy Process and Non-state Actor’s Involvement.” Nonprofit Policy Forum. 7(2): 137-170. Retrieved 2 Feb. 2020, from doi:10.1515/npf-2015-0051

UNAIDS. 2017. “Addressing a Blind Spot in the Response to HIV- Reaching Out to Men and Boys.” Retrieved 2 Feb. 2020.

UNAIDS. 2020. “HIV Prevention.” Accessed 2 Feb. 2020.