National AIDS Council

The National AIDS Council is a parastatal established under the Ministry of Health and Child Care through an Act of Parliament (The National AIDS Council Act Chapter 15:14 of 2000) to coordinate and facilitate the national multi-sectorial response to HIV and AIDS. It is also mandated to administer the National AIDS Trust Fund (NATF) collected through the AIDS Levy i.e. the 3% collected from every worker’s taxable income (PAYE) and corporate tax.

National AIDS Council’s Mandate

To provide for measures to combat the spread of Human Imuno Deficiency Virus (HIV) and management, co-ordination and implementation of programs that reduce the impact of HIV and AIDS. It is also tasked to administer the National AIDS Trust Fund (NATF). (The National AIDS Council Act Chapter 15:14 of 2000).

Although the Act gives NAC the power to implement programs, it is now generally agreed that its role and comparative advantage is to lead, co-ordinate, monitor, and evaluate the national response to HIV and AIDS. The Act gives NAC the following functions and powers:

• Ensure the development of strategies and policies to respond to HIV and AIDS, mitigate the effects of the HIV and AIDS epidemic, and promote and coordinate the application of such strategies and policies.
• Mobilize and manage resources in support of a national response to HIV and AIDS.
• Enhance the capacity of the various sectors of the community to respond to the HIV and AIDS epidemic and to coordinate their responses.
• Encourage the provision of facilities to treat and care for persons living with HIV and their dependents.
• Monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of the strategies and policies and the national response to HIV and AIDS.

COORDINATION OF THE NATIONAL HIV AND AIDS RESPONSE

Zimbabwe adopted a multi-sectorial response to HIV and AIDS and upholds the Three Ones initiative which stipulates there must be;

• One Coordinating Authority (National AIDS Council)
• One strategic Framework (Zimbabwe National HIV and AIDS Strategic Plan (2015-2020)
• One National Monitoring and Evaluation System (Administered by NAC)

ONE COORDINATING AUTHORITY

NAC coordinates the national HIV response through a multi-sectorial approach by actively engaging all sectors in the country through established structures, led by a multi sectorial board at National level, Provincial (Provincial AIDS Action Committees), District[district AIDS Action Committees, Ward (Ward AIDS Action Committees) and Village (Village AIDS Action Committees) levels.

ONE STRATEGIC FRAMEWORK

The HIV response is guided by the Zimbabwe National HIV and AIDS Strategic plan.

The Zimbabwe National AIDS Strategic Plan 2021-2025(ZNASP IV 2021-2025)

Objectives

To archive the vision and goal, Zimbabwe aims at achieving the following impact results:

• To reduce new HIV infections by 68% by 2025 from 2018 baseline (39000)
• Halve AIDS related deaths by 2025 from 2018 baseline (21800)
• Reduce MTCT rate to less than 5% by 2025; and,
• Eliminate HIV –related stigma and discrimination

These targets will be delivered through

1. Combination prevention strategies
2. HIV Testing services
3. Social behavior changes
4. Communications (SBCC)
5. Elimination of Mother to Child Transmission
6. Sexually transmitted infections (STIs)
7. Condoms
8. Voluntary Medical Male Circumcision (VMMC)
9. Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PreP)
10. Post Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP)

• Treatment Care and Support
• Antiretroviral Therapy
• HIV and Tuberculosis (TB) Integration
• Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs)
• Interventions
• Nutrition and HIV
• Care and Support for Orphans and Vulnerable Children

Monitoring and Evaluation

Resilient Sustainable Systems for Health

Management and Coordination of the multi sectorial response

Human resources for Health

Community Systems Strengthening

Public Private Partnerships

Policy, Legislation and Regulatory Systems