By Chipo Gudhe
Midlands Province Civil Protection Unit (CPU) Chairperson, Charlton Murove, has called for the integration of HIV and AIDS issues into disaster management frameworks, warning that they are often overlooked in emergency situations.
Murove made the clarion call recently highlighting the need to treat HIV and AIDS as cross-cutting issues during disaster preparedness and response efforts.
“Most times when disaster strikes, HIV issues are overlooked,” Murove said. “For example, at the recent bus accident near Fairmile Hotel in Gweru, there were no HIV concerns at that scene?”
He emphasised that HIV and AIDS should not be treated in isolation but addressed alongside other emerging issues such as pandemics, natural disasters, and drug and substance abuse.
“HIV and AIDS are not stand-alone. They are interconnected with several social and health challenges, especially during emergencies. We need to loop in these issues and have a plan in place to be instituted during disasters,” he said.
Zimbabwe, like many countries in Southern Africa, has experienced multiple natural and human-induced disasters over the years, including cyclones, droughts, road traffic accidents, floods, and disease outbreaks. While the Civil Protection Unit coordinates responses to these emergencies, HIV and AIDS considerations have historically taken a back seat in immediate crisis management.
In disasters such as Cyclone Idai in 2019, which devastated parts of Manicaland Province, the needs of people living with HIV especially in terms of access to antiretroviral therapy (ART), nutrition, and psychosocial support were only addressed after humanitarian agencies raised the alarm.
Health experts warn that during disasters, disruptions in health services often lead to treatment interruptions, loss of medical records, and increased vulnerability for people living with HIV, especially women and children. Overcrowded shelters and displacement can also increase the risk of HIV transmission due to lack of privacy, exploitation, and weakened community structures.
Murove’s remarks come at a time when Zimbabwe continues to battle both recurring disasters and a high HIV prevalence rate, particularly in urban and mining communities.
He urged policymakers to begin normalizing the inclusion of HIV-sensitive programming in disaster risk reduction strategies, humanitarian planning, and recovery efforts.
The government has however acknowledged the need to prioritize the needs of people living with HIV and AIDS during disasters ensuring access to essential services but there is no specific policy place.
