Zimbabwean Government ‘Urges’ Citizens to be Tested for HIV
The government of Zimbabwe has "urged" country residents to undergo voluntary HIV testing, Xinhua News Agency reports. Minister of Health and Child Welfare David Parirenyatwa said that knowing one's HIV status is "very important" to plan for the future. Parirenyatwa said that the country is working together with other sub-Saharan African nations to stop the spread of HIV in the region, adding that Zimbabwe's 1999 introduction of an AIDS tax, which is intended to benefit HIV-positive people and children who have lost one or both parents to AIDS-related causes, was a "commendable step" in the fight against HIV/AIDS. Two million of Zimbabwe's 13 million residents are HIV-positive, according to Parirenyatwa (Xinhua News Agency, 9/8).
This is part of the Morning Briefing, a summary of health policy coverage from major news organizations. Sign up for an email subscription.