Like many of its Eastern African neighbours, Zimbabwe has a very high HIV/AIDS infection rate. More than 20% of the population aged 15 to 49 is affected. This led Médecins du Monde to take action, thanks in part to financing provided by the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA). The work revolves around prevention and the support of health institutions, but is also a continuous fight for the population to gain access to medication.

In Zimbabwe, there are many needs. Few NGOs are onsite and many countries have stopped providing funds directly to the government. It was the case of Canada, among others, in 2002. The country wanted to protest against civil rights and freedom violations in Zimbabwe. “Since Médecins du Monde is not an observer NGO and since it is in Zimbabwe to reinforce the healthcare system, however, everything is going well”, says André Bertrand, General Director of Médecins du Monde Canada.

The NGO intervenes in the Chipinge district, near the Mozambique border. Médecins du Monde Canada is particularly focusing on access to anti-retroviral drugs and works in collaboration with its French counterpart, which is in charge of supporting the hospital system. Médecins du Monde Spain, for its part, mainly touches upon community outreach.

Working With Local Forces
In Zimbabwe, it is estimated that between one and two million people live with HIV. The state provides care, but it has a long way to go to answer every need. Médecins du Monde is trying to improve the healthcare and the health services offered to the population. To achieve this goal, it has associated itself with the local organization Family AIDS Caring Trust (FACT).

“We do not land in a country with a large medical team to provide care to the population. Rather, we ensure that the local teams are better able to treat the population. For example, we provide training to nurses in the field of HIV/AIDS screening” explains Mr. Bertrand.

Access to Anti-retroviral Drugs
For ethical reasons, providing people with access to screening tests carries the moral obligation of being able to provide those found to be HIV-positive with the necessary care. “First, we must ensure the availability of medical expertise to guarantee the proper follow-up for infected persons. The medical staff must be trained to understand the virus’s various realities, such as drug resistance”, says Médecins du Monde’s Director.

Of course, the population also needs access to medication. “Anti-retroviral drugs are more and more accessible. Médecins du Monde gets a supply of generic drugs and provides as much as possible to the needy. On this aspect, much lobbying efforts remain to be done. The international community needs to understand that it is possible to treat African populations with anti-retroviral drugs. People are responsible, they know what the drugs are and how important it is to take them once they have gained access”, André Bertrand continues.

Pregnant Women And Children
In Zimbabwe, Médecins du Monde works extensively with pregnant women. The NGO hopes to reduce by at least 50% the transmission of HIV from mothers to children in the five health establishments found in Chipinge district. Right now, the transmission rate is at 35%. “We have to start by screening the mothers and by giving them medication to prevent transmission”, says Mr. Bertrand.

Children are not forgotten either. Médecins du Monde works with AIDS orphans by helping them reintegrate school and by providing them with adequate healthcare. Last year, 500 children were taken on, and these efforts are ongoing this year. The NGO has also begun to give children access to anti-retroviral medication. According to André Bertrand, this practice is rare in the region. Even though Médecins du Monde is only beginning to make an effort in this field, a few children already reap the benefits.

A Warm Welcome
The population of Zimbabwe seems to react well to Médecins du Monde’s endeavours. “The fact that we first attempt to help pregnant women is well perceived here, since to them, children are wealth. It is crucially important for mothers not to transmit HIV to their children, and so they are very motivated to participate in our efforts”, says Mr. Bertrand.

Much the same way, women who live with HIV/AIDS are not forgotten. Support groups are formed and women can speak up, for example in lobbying efforts, and attempt to facilitate drug access. “In fact, says Mr. Bertrand, these women who get help are able to undertake community actions to change the way things are and they become leaders.”