Bulawayo Slashes HIV Infections by 44%—But Can the Progress Be Sustained?
Bulawayo has recorded a major breakthrough in Zimbabwe’s fight against HIV, with new infections dropping by 44% between 2020 and 2024.
According to the National Aids Council’s (NAC) 2025 HIV Estimate Report, cases fell from 1,016 in 2020 to just 567 in 2024.
Health officials attribute the decline to expanded access to antiretroviral therapy (ART), intensified prevention campaigns, and consistent community education efforts.
During the same period, more than 3,000 people living with HIV in Bulawayo were added to treatment programs, raising ART coverage from 87.5% to an impressive 98.3%.
“These are not just numbers. They represent lives saved, families preserved and futures secured,” said one NAC official.
The achievement has drawn national attention as a model for how targeted strategies can deliver measurable results even in resource-limited settings.
Despite the progress, the NAC warns that these gains remain fragile.
The planned withdrawal of United States aid in 2025 has sparked fears of funding shortfalls, donor fatigue, and the impact of Zimbabwe’s economic instability.
Public health experts caution that previous milestones have been reversed when momentum faltered.
In this context, “momentum” refers to the forward movement in HIV prevention and treatment—progress that could stall or collapse if support systems weaken or financial resources dry up.
The report also highlights deeper structural challenges.
While donor support has been critical, Zimbabwe’s own investment in healthcare remains insufficient.
Hospitals across the country are underfunded, short-staffed, and facing chronic drug shortages, while millions continue to be spent on luxury vehicles for officials and politically driven projects.
“The lesson is clear: aid can kick-start progress, but it cannot sustain it forever,” the report cautions.
Bulawayo’s achievement shows that even in difficult economic conditions, strategic public health interventions can bend the curve of the epidemic.
The real challenge now is whether Zimbabwe can lock in these gains by strengthening local health systems and whether other provinces can replicate Bulawayo’s success to drive national progress.
-Byo24
