HIV rate drop in Zimbabwe

There has been a reported drop in the number of people in Zimbabwe who are infected with HIV.

New statistics from the government have indicated that the rate of infection has decreased to 13.7 per cent of young people and adults.

This is a reduction of 0.4 per cent, from an estimated 14.1 per cent 12 months ago.

Henry Madzorera, the health minister, called for fresh efforts to combat Aids and insisted that the rate is still far too high.

He told the New Ziana news agency: "We have to redouble our efforts and commitment and keep the sense of hope that indeed one day we will get to the single digit prevalence."

The figures, which measure people aged between 15 and 49, have fallen from a high of 33 per cent ten years ago.

Both behavioural change and international efforts to prevent HIV spreading have been factors in the drop in infections, the government suggested.

One new way in which Zimbabwe is fighting HIV is through male circumcision.

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