CALL FOR APPLICATIONS – African Union Climate Action Innovators Hub at the Africa Climate Summit
African Union’s Climate Change and Resilient Development Strategy and Action Plan (2022-2032) is Africa’s first collective climate change action plan and strategy that details specific suggested actions the continent needs to urgently undertake to respond to climate change. The Strategy seeks to harmonise the continent’s response to climate change over the next decade, setting out the key guiding principles, priorities, and intervention areas for enhanced climate cooperation. This Strategy is the framework for climate action of all Africans, including both government and non-government stakeholders. For the Strategy to be effectively implemented, broad-based ownership and inclusive participation is vital.
The African Union Commission will host a Climate Action Innovation Hub at the upcoming Africa Climate Summit, taking place 4-6 September 2023 in Nairobi, Kenya. This Climate Action Innovation Hub will provide an opportunity to showcase a diverse range of the bold, innovative climate actions, lead by women and youth, that are taking place across the continent that align and operationalise specific ambitions and goals of the Africa Climate Change Strategy.
The Climate Action Innovation Hub will be a dedicated space for Africa’s innovators, especially women and youth, to showcase their ‘game changing’ climate-orientated solutions and innovations that support the achievement of a climate-resilient and sustainable Africa. The Climate Action Innovation Hub provides an important platform to exchange key lessons and share ideas, as well as an opportunity to garner support for innovative solutions from a diverse and broad audience, including policy makers and potential investors.
These transformative climate innovations and initiatives, of varying scales, may touch on any of the major themes identified within the Climate Strategy. These include, but are not limited to: clean energy; climate-smart agriculture and sustainable land management; biodiversity conservation; green economy and sustainable value chains; sustainable fisheries management; water storage and conservation; waste management and circular economy; green transport and climate resilient infrastructure, resilient and climate smart cities, etc. These also can include advocacy, empowerment, and awareness raising initiatives, as well as capacity building projects.
A key criteria for selection is that the innovation must be lead by women or youth, or directly target them, demonstrate a contribution towards building Africa’s climate adaptation capacity, reducing its greenhouse gas emissions and/or enhancing its overall climate resilience. Applications from climate innovators at various scales are welcome, with a preference given to projects that operate at a grassroots level or that demonstrate a high degree of social inclusion.
For the opportunity to be selected as one of the African innovators to participate in the African Union Climate Action Innovation Hub, please complete and submit the below application no later than Friday, 4th August 2023 at midnight East African Time.
Please note that we will only contact successful applicants.
For more information, please contact
Leah Wanambwa ([email protected], [email protected], ), with CC to Harsen Nyambe Nyambe ([email protected]) and Feben Tegegne, ([email protected]).
Zimbabwe recorded close to 350,000 teen pregnancies on girls between the ages of 10 and 19 in three years, an official has said.
Blessing Nyagumbo, the United Nations Population Fund (UNPF) adolescent sexual health reproductive specialist in Zimbabwe told journalists on Tuesday that the country recorded a steep increase in pregnancies among girls and teenagers between 2019 and 2022.
“Between 2019 and 2022, there were about 1,7 million pregnancies recorded in Zimbabwe and out of that, 21 percent happened amongst adolescents that are between the ages of 10 to 19 years and that translates to around 350,000 teenage pregnancies,” he said.
“That tells you how devastating the rate of teenage pregnancies in Zimbabwe is.”
Nyagumbo said sexual reproductive health education in schools has been identified as key in raising awareness and subsequently reducing cases of sexual exploitation of minors.
“One of the preventing strategic interventions that we support as UNFPA is strengthening the delivery of sexuality education in schools,” he said.
The high number of teenage pregnancies continues in the country despite the recent enactment of laws that outlaw sex with minors who are below 18.
In 2018, about 3,000 girls dropped out of school because of pregnancy.
In 2019, the number remained relatively steady. However, in 2020, the number rose to 4,770 mostly being students who were prematurely forced to leave school due to pregnancy.
In 2021, it skyrocketed as about 5,000 students got pregnant in that year’s first two months.
The youngest mother to ever fall pregnant in Zimbabwe was an 8-year-old girl, who fell pregnant last year after being raped allegedly by two 17-year-old boys.
The alarming statistics of teenage pregnancies have been attributed to lax enforcement, widespread poverty, and cultural and religious practices.
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Background
Leveraging youth engagement for the Success of the New Public Health Order for Africa
African youth constitute over 65% of the African population, and behind this number are young health professionals and health advocates who hold great potential to innovate and advance Africa’s health. They play a critical role in African countries in promoting public health and reaching communities and thus, are partners, assets, and a prerequisite for the successful implementation of Africa CDC’s New Public Health Order for Africa and driving health security on the continent and internationally.
Acknowledging this, Africa CDC has been engaging African youth through initiatives such as the AU COVID-19 Vaccination Bingwa Initiative and Africa CDC’s inaugural Youth Advisory Team for Health (YAT4H). Another key element of Africa CDC’s youth engagement efforts is its Youth Conference, an annual event that brings together young people from across the African continent to discuss and strategize on issues related to health. The conference provides a platform for young people to engage with public health experts, policymakers, and other stakeholders to share ideas, experiences, and best practices in addressing health challenges on the continent.
The inaugural Youth Pre-Conference was held on 10–11 December 2022 in Kigali, Rwanda prior to the 2nd annual International Conference on Public Health in Africa (CPHIA) 2022. Its aim was to kick-start a long-term strategic engagement between Africa CDC and young people to advance sustainable health security in Africa. Participants of the conference called for inclusive youth engagement, youth involvement in decision-making, facilitation of a collaborative intracontinental network, and building the capacity of emerging public health leaders to advance sustainable health security in Africa.
Against this background and reflecting its commitment to meaningfully engage young people, The second edition of Africa CDC’s Youth Pre Conference (YPC 2023), with the theme “Youth Leadership for a safer and healthier Africa”, will be held in an in-person format on 25–26 November in Lusaka, Zambia, prior to the 3rd CPHIA (CPHIA 2023). Its aim is to continue and intensify the conversation on youth engagement at Africa CDC and to provide a platform for exchange on innovative solutions to institutionalise youth leadership in public health on African the continent.
Objective and Expected Outcomes
General Objective
The overall goal of the Africa CDC Youth Pre Conference is to advance and institutionalise the strategic engagement between Africa CDC and young people by providing a space for young people to critically reflect on the current state of public health in Africa; share perspectives on the role of young people in public health; and exchange on prospects and innovative solutions to enhance meaningful youth engagement in this area.
Specific Objectives
Provide a collaborative, open and inclusive space for young people to:
- Reflect: build a thorough understanding of the current state of public health in Africa and the role of young people in this area;
- Strategize: define the role of young people in driving innovative solutions to health challenges in their communities and strategize how youth can actively participate in decision-making processes that affect their health and wellbeing and take on leadership roles in the health sector;
- Exchange and brainstorm: explore innovative solutions to health challenges and to institutionalising youth leadership in public health on the African continent;
- Network and collaborate: unite and share their reflections and work on public health and network with peers, public health figures, and mentors (intergenerational as well as peer-to-peer dialogue) to share lessons and experiences on youth engagement in public health;
- Connect: bridge the gap between youth and organisations/initiatives across the continent working on public health in Africa.
Output
A long-term and institutionalised youth engagement to advance Africa CDC goals, the Vision for the New Public Health Order and health security in Africa.
Outcomes
- Young people understand the current state of public health in Africa (incl. Africa CDC goals and its New Public Health Order).
- The role of youth in driving sustainable change in the health outcomes of their communities is defined and feedback is provided on Africa CDC youth engagement initiatives such as the Youth Conference, AU Bingwa Initiative and YAT4H.
- Participants are able to advise on how Africa CDC can institutionalise youth leadership and engagement in the African public health sphere.
- A space is provided for young Africans in public health to unite, to share their reflections and work on public health and to network with peers, public health figures, and find mentors (incl. intergenerational conversation/exchange with experts).
- The Africa CDC Youth Conference has served as a platform to bridge the gap between youth and organisations/initiatives working on public health in Africa.
Proposed Framework
The 2023 Africa CDC Youth Pre-Conference will take place in-person from 25–26 November 2023 in Lusaka, Zambia. The agenda will include TEDx style talks, workshops, networking and cultural exchange spaces, presentations, and small working groups.
Participant Selection
Participants of the Youth Pre Conference will be representatives of each AU Member State as well as public health institutions, health organisations and start-ups, as well as youth-led medical associations and networks.
They will be identified through an open call that will be administered through an online application system. The selection of participants will be based on the following criteria:
Selection Criteria
- Age: 18 to 35 years
- Location: Applicants must be a citizen of an AU member State
- Experience and expertise: have an educational background (at least enrolled as undergraduate) and first professional experiences in the following areas: medical sciences public health/environmental health technology health
- policy public service and health development cooperation media and journalism (with a focus on health)
- Extensive work experience in public health may be used to supplement the application for those who hold degrees unrelated to health sciences or public health.
- Leadership: participants with demonstrated leadership potential through involvement in youth-led health initiatives, advocacy or community organizing will be prioritised.
- Networks: Participants will be selected from youth-led and -oriented organisations and networks, associations, academia or in individual capacities. Young participants affiliated with a youth-led organisation, network or movement are highly encouraged to apply.
- Commitment: Youth participants must demonstrate a strong commitment to public health engagement in Africa as an advocate or a practitioner.
- Other factors: geographical balance (representation of all AU Member States), diverse ideological and professional backgrounds, gender, ethnic and social diversity, disability status, will be considered in the final selection of participants.
The application shall be opened by 26th June 2023. The deadline is 25th July 2023, 11:59 pm East Africa Time. The selected applicants will be contacted by 25th August 2023.
How to Apply:
Applicants for the 2023 Africa CDC Youth Pre Conference are expected to fill out the application form online with their personal information, educational and professional background attaching:
- A Statement briefly detailing why they want to participate in the Africa CDC Youth Pre Conference, highlighting the role of the youth in advancing sustainable health security in Africa,
- An example of a time when they led a project or demonstrated leadership skills within the public health space,
- A curriculum vitae.
Please find this link for application: https://forms.gle/21yo3sbVNvWqDEA66.
While completing your application please keep the following in mind:
- Exceeding the word count for your essay responses will disadvantage your application. Ensure your essay responses are within 150-250 words.
- You will not be able to change any elements of your application after submission. Before you submit, make sure that all your answers are accurate and the files you have uploaded are the final versions of your documents.
- Complete the form in one sitting to avoid losing your responses. We also suggest writing text responses (e.g., your public health work experience and qualifications) on a separate document and pasting it here after you finish
Working Languages
The conference language is English and French. Interpretation will be provided for both languages.
La version francaise de l’application ci jointe en PDF.
Contact Details of the Coordinating Team
- Dr. Chrys Promesse Kaniki, Africa CDC, Senior Technical Officer for Strategic Programmes: [email protected]
- Ms. Huong Le, GIZ Office to the African Union, Advisor: [email protected]
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This sluggish progress for children was attributed to the fact that children are largely dependent on their adult caregivers. In 2022, Zimbabwean women surpassed the 95-95-95 targets recording 98–97–95 compared to Zimbabwean men who stood at 93–91–89.
Speaking to journalists at a Pediatric HIV media science café organized by the Health Communicators Forum (HCF) on Friday, Elizabeth Glazer Pediatric AIDS Foundation (EGPAF) Zimbabwe Technical Advisor Dr Hilda Bara said the low ART coverage for children was a global trend.
“Generally, across the globe, we noticed that children are disproportionately affected or impacted by HIV. And this impact is actually higher in infants and young children. Partly because they depend on adults.
“So really what happens to children, infants, young children that are not able to make decisions on themselves will now depend on the health seeking behaviour of adults who are playing the care giver role,” she said.
According to Dr Bara’s presentation, in 2021 the percent of children who knew their HIV status was 72.5 percent. Of those tested, 100 percent where put on ART but 79.3 percent of those on ART had their viral load suppressed. She while ART initiation was 100 percent in 2021, it was saddening that they were missing out on the testing part since 2016 which had 66 percent of children knowing their status.
“From 2016 up until now I think when you look at children, where we have done well is just initiating them ART which has been consistent at 100 percent but we have been missing a significant proportion of the children that are living with HIV where in 2016 we missed out on 32 percent,” Dr Bara noted.
She added that children between ages zero to 15 are poorly monitored when it comes to viral load suppression which is achieved by constant and timeous taking of ARVs.
“And in 2021 we missed almost a quarter of the children that are living with HIV and we only managed to test about 70 percent. When they are initiated on ART they also don’t achieve viral suppression at rates that apply to adults. Why? Because the way babies take their medication depends on us adults. It’s different from an adult who knows when it’s 8 o’clock I need to take my medication.
“But a baby may depend on a caregiver. And some of them are orphaned and there is no one to monitor how they take their medication. Some of them are in boarding schools, and because there are disclosure issues without disclosing to the boarding master or matron, they may not take their medication,” Dr Bara added.
She said they need to diagnose and initiate over 80 000 children on ART.
“So, if HIV is not treated, about half of the babies will die before the age of two and three quarters of them would have died by the age of five. So this also tells us we have a lot of work to do in terms of making sure that undiagnosed HIV in children is picked up and those that are tested positive are initiated on treatment early.
“Otherwise, if we don’t do that then we lose half of them at two years and three quarters at the age of five. And we have an estimated 82 000 children that are living with undiagnosed HIV. We need to look for them. This is in Zimbabwe. We need to look for them. We need to test them and we need to initiate them on treatment,” Dr Bara said.
According to the UNAIDS 2023 Global AIDS Update, about 82% of pregnant or breastfeeding women living with HIV were receiving antiretroviral therapy in 2022, up from 48%in 2010.
“Together, these services have prevented over 3.4 million HIV infections in children since 2000, and they have drastically reduced numbers of AIDS-related deaths in children since the peak in 2004, when there were 360 000 AIDS-related deaths, to 84 000 in 2022.
“This has contributed to a decrease in overall deaths in children, especially among children aged 5–14 years, in whom the proportion of deaths that are AIDS-related has declined considerably (SDG 3). Most of these deaths have been averted in sub-Saharan Africa, the region with the highest mortality rates among children,” said UNAIDS in the report.
Join us for a discussion and Q&A with the Arab-American community on USAID job opportunities and pursuing careers in international development.
EVENT: Join USAID Administrator Samantha Power for a conversation with the Arab-American community. We’ll discuss USAID job opportunities and outline how to pursue careers in international development.
RSVP here: https://lnkd.in/guUkvpXr
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INVITATION FOR SUPPLIER REGISTRATION
Deadline: 13 December 2022
Current and prospective suppliers are invited to participate in ActionAid Zimbabwe supplier vetting and selection process. Prospective vendors who satisfy the predetermined vetting and selection criteria shall form part of our approved and preferred list for the year 2023.
List of services required covers the following:
▪ Accommodation and conferencing
▪ Catering (teas, lunches and refreshments)
▪ Promotional & IEC materials (t-shirts, banners, printing)
▪ Computer consumables
▪ Stationery
▪ ICT services (networking, software & hardware repairs)
▪ Communication equipment
▪ Internet service provision
▪ Office furniture supply
▪ Videography, photography and editing
▪ Art (skits, animation, road shows, graphic designing)
▪ Translators (French, Spanish, Tonga, Ndebele, Shona)
▪ Vehicle hire-trucks, off road vehicles, shuttle
▪ Taxi Services
▪ Travel Agents (For Air-tickets)
▪ Transport Services (Minibuses, trucks)
▪ Container Suppliers
▪ Vehicle sales, parts and servicing
▪ Repairs & maintenance of vehicles/bikes, generators
▪ Building materials
▪ Fencing materials, irrigation materials, drip irrigation
▪ Insurance (motor vehicle/bikes)
▪ Electric gates maintenance
▪ Repairs & maintenance of buildings
▪ Borehole drilling (solar powered boreholes, treadle pumps, pressure pump)
▪ Borehole spares
▪ Dip tank poles
▪ Solar installation & equipment
▪ Livestock-chicks, cattle, goats, pigs
▪ Agricultural equipment-feed plants, AI equipment
▪ Fuel
▪ Water & sanitation
▪ Stock feed
▪ Drugs & vaccines
▪ Seed & cuttings
CONSULTANCY – THEMES
▪ Tax justice
▪ Gender
▪ Unpaid care work
▪ Agro – ecology
▪ Value chain development
▪ Market analysis
▪ Policy and advocacy analysis
▪ Fundraising (Business Development)
▪ Evaluations (baseline, mid–term)
REQUIREMENTS
Interested companies should meet the following requirements and provide certified copies of documents as listed below:
▪ CR14 form
▪ Certificate of incorporation
▪ Current tax clearance certificate
▪ Company profile detailing (physical location & contact details, product or service list, at least 3 reputable and verifiable references, payment terms and Banking details).
To apply
All applications are advised to clearly mark the category applied for and drop in sealed envelopes.
Procurement Committee,
ActionAid Zimbabwe,
26 Divine Road, Milton Park,
Harare.
ActionAid has articulated a strong stand on gender justice and safeguarding through its child protection and antisexual harassment, exploitation, and abuse policies which all service providers are expected to abide by.
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SUPPLIER REGISTRATION
The Union Zimbabwe Trust is inviting suppliers and service providers in the following categories to participate in a vetting and selection process. Successful service providers will be listed on our approved suppliers list and considered for supplying our requirements during the year 2022 and 2023.
GUIDELINES FOR APPLICATION
1. Suppliers with multiple services that cover various categories should submit separate documentation for each category
2. Current Union Zimbabwe Trust suppliers are encouraged to apply
3. This advertisement is an invitation to do business and not an offer to provide goods and services
4. The Union Zimbabwe Trust reserves the right to accept or reject after assessment process
The following supporting documents are to accompany the application:
– Application Letter including all Contact Details
– Company profile (Maximum of 5 pages)
– Certificate of incorporation
– Memorandum and Articles of Association
– CR14
– Valid ITF263 Tax Clearance Certificate
– Trade licence (If Applicable)
– Three traceable references preferably in the NGO sector for the category applied for
1. General Supplies/Services
• General office stationery
• Clearing and Forwarding Services Groceries – wholesalers/ supermarkets/ green grocery
• Water supply and water coolers
2. Media and Publishing
• Videography and Photography services
• Advertising
• Talk and roadshows & Spot messages
• Branding and Signage
3. Computers and IT Services
• Printer sales, cartridges/toner
• Computer hardware accessories
• Network Infrastructure services
• PABX
• ICT Softwares
• Cellphone sales & services
• Repairs & maintenance services (Computers, Copiers, Printers, etc)
4. Motor Vehicle/Cycle Sales, Maintenance & Fuel Services
• Motor vehicle/cycle sales
• Motor vehicle/cycle repair/maintenance
• Lubricant
• Vehicle & motorbikes fittings and accessories
• Riding Gear
• Liquid fuel – cards and coupons
• Fuel storage rental services
5. Insurance
• Insurance services and broking (assets)
6. Travel Agents & Transportation Services
• Courier Services
• Vehicle hire, and leasing services
• Taxi services
• Vehicle towing Services
• Flight booking
8. Office Furniture & Equipment
• Office furniture and fittings & household electricals
9 Security Services
• Guard Services (office and residential buildings)
• CIT Services
• Access Control, Alarms & Rapid Response etc.
• Locksmith services
• Vehicle Tracking
• Firefighting equipment & maintenance
10. Conference facility, accommodation, and meals
• Outside catering & Confectionery services
• Décor and events management services
• Conference facilities & accommodation, lodging, bed & breakfast
11. Power backup Services
• Generator supply and maintenance
• Solar power supply and maintenance
• Uninterrupted power supply system (UPS)
12. Professional Services Consultancy
• Audit services
• Legal services
• HR/Team building services
• DJs/MCs/Edutainers
• Training services
• Translation and Interpretation services
13. Designing, Printing and Photocopying
• Designing and Printing,
• Photocopying services
• Corporate branding
• Promotional Items
• Designing and printing of IEC material
• Field bags for outreach work
• Camping equipment/tents supply and hire services
• Sportswear and Equipment
14. Auctioneers
15. Medical Supplies, Equipment & Consumables
• Glucometers
• Glucostrips
• Scales
How to Apply
1. Click on the link to complete the registration form https://docs.google.com/forms/d/19RZMOk3JjQdElnIGzMxM5-aJ0lLkqCpUrsFzO8-xma8/edit
2. Interested Suppliers should submit an electronic application package by the 12th of December 2022 clearly stating your Category for consideration to: [email protected]
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ARVs default rate on the rise
WITH three million new HIV infections recorded in the world between 2020 and 2021, the search for a cure for HIV becomes are ever more important.
Experts believe that having 40 million people living with HIV on lifelong treatment is not sustainable in the long-term.
The recently ended United Nations General Assembly (UNGA)’s call to pool US$18 billion for the Global Fund highlighted the urgent need for a cure.
The US$18 billion is for treatment, and with antiretroviral therapy (ART) suppressing the virus only, a cure is urgently needed.
World Health Organisation (WHO) director of Global HIV, Hepatitis and Sexually Transmitted Infections Programmes, Dr Meg Doherty, said there is growing burden of new HIV infections.
“HIV prevention efforts have stalled, with 1,5 million new HIV infections in 2021 – the same as 2020.
“There were 4 000 new infections every day in 2021, with key populations (sex workers, men who have sex with men, people who inject drugs, people in prisons and transgender people) and their sexual partners accounting for 70 percent of HIV infections globally.
“Long-acting cabotegravir is a safe and highly effective HIV prevention tool, but isn’t yet available outside study settings,” she said.
Statistics as at June 2022 shows that people defaulting from ARVs first line were 49 944 and third line 489, from a total of 1,2 million people living with HIV as compared to 2019, when second line was 389.
Community Working Group on Health executive director, Mr Itai Rusike, said there has been an increase in the number of people defaulting on ARVs.
“The country is still experiencing an increased number of people who are defaulting on HIV medication.
“Even though ARVs are mostly provided free of charge at our public health institutions, there are still a number of barriers to treatment, such as transport costs, diagnostic costs and logistical challenges for Zimbabweans outside the country, especially from areas along our borders, but who rely on their ARVs supply from the country.
“The current challenges of drug abuse are also another contributing factor for defaulting on HIV treatment,” he said.
Mr Rusike said there is a need to understand reasons for defaulting in order to design improved treatment retention.
“But, what is encouraging is that Zimbabwe has almost 1,4 million people living with HIV and 1,3 million are on treatment, which is highly commendable even though we would want to have everyone living with HIV to be on treatment,” he said.
Zimbabwe Medical Awards Trust chairperson, Dr Josephat Chiripanyanga, urged people to take the virus seriously.
“There are a lot of new cases of HIV and people are also defaulting on their treatment. This is mainly because people are now reluctant, and they are saying HIV is no longer deadly as it was before,” he said.
“It has also affected us as medical practitioners in terms of managing patients with HIV and AIDS because people no longer see the importance of abstinence, the importance of taking PREP and PEP.
“We want to warn the general public that HIV is still there and people are still dying, and if you take your medication you will leave a normal and healthy life.”
Life Empowerment Support Organisation executive director, Ms Olive Mutabeni, said major defaults were witnessed during the Covid-19 lockdowns.
“Major causes of defaulting were caused by Covid-19 necessitated lockdowns.
“People were afraid of moving around to collect their medication and afraid of disclosing their status at road blocks.
“Another thing we noted during our community monitoring was the issue of test and treat, which is leaving the patients very dull because mentally they will not be prepared to accept,” she said.
She added that there is a need for the establishment of support groups that educate people on treatment literacy.
“People are still in negative mode. Treatment literacy is now limited due to limited health workers, and they are overwhelmed. Stigma and discrimination is still there, hence people are now defaulting.
“We need to revisit our palliative care, because it starts from the diagnosis process.
“More supportive care and treatment literacy and support groups,” said Ms Mutabeni.
In July, 2020, an HIV vaccine trial called Imbokodo was stopped in South Africa after it was found to be 25 percent or less effective in stopping HIV infection.
However, HIV vaccine trials continue to take place in Mexico and Brazil among the transgender community settings.
There are also trials on gene therapy in the UK and US.
A Ugandan researcher, Dr Cissy Kiyto, explained how gene therapy works.
She said the two methods, In-Vivo and Ex-Vivo, entail a therapy inside the body and the other outside in the laboratory.
“Gene therapy can be done as Ex-Vivo, outside the body, genetically modified with no need for a donor.
“The cells are taken from the patient again, so no challenges of matching donors, no fear of rejection of the cells because they belong to the patient. When modified, the cells are planted back into the bone marrow.
“With In-Vivo, an injection is given, this is the goal, we are not yet there, we will get there one day. Currently, we are working on ex-vivo. The two procedures, ex-vivo and in-vivo require no donor,” she said.
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Zimbabwe is the first county in Africa to announce regulatory approval for long-acting injectable cabotegravir for HIV prevention
Today, the Medicines Control Authority of Zimbabwe announced that it has approved the use of long-acting injectable cabotegravir (CAB-LA) as pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) for HIV prevention.
This follows the WHO recommendation, announced in July 2022, that CAB-LA may be offered to people at substantial risk of HIV acquisition as part of comprehensive HIV prevention approaches. Two large studies showed that CAB-LA injections every 2 months were safe, well-tolerated, and highly effective in reducing the risk of HIV acquisition among men who have sex with men and transgender women and among cisgender women. WHO released comprehensive guidelines, calling for countries to consider this effective prevention option, and highlighted the need for implementation science to support its introduction. CAB-LA is the third PrEP product recommended by WHO for HIV prevention. Tenofovir-based oral PrEP was recommended in 2015 and the dapivirine vaginal ring, another long-acting product, in 2021. The availability of these three products provides increased choices for HIV prevention.
Until now, CAB-LA has only received regulatory approval in 2 high-income countries. First, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved its use for HIV prevention in December 2021. In August 2022, Australia’s Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) was the second national regulatory body to approve CAB-LA. Zimbabwe is the first country in Africa and first low- and middle-income country to do so.
“WHO welcomes the news that Zimbabwe has approved the use of CAB-LA, which will pave the way for its use, providing more safe and effective options for HIV prevention,” said Dr Meg Doherty, Director of WHO’s Global HIV, Hepatitis and Sexually Transmitted Infections Programmes.
There is considerable interest from communities in this new effective HIV prevention option.
“Accelerating HIV prevention for girls and young women requires an expansion on choices available. I am excited and proud to know that my own country Zimbabwe has approved the use of CAB-LA. This will contribute to our basket of HIV prevention tools that work for us as girls and women in Zimbabwe,“ commented Ms Nyasha Sithole, Development Agenda for Girls and Women in Africa Network (DAWA), Zimbabwe.
Regulatory approval is a crucial step in making CAB-LA available to individuals who could benefit from this new PrEP choice, and WHO will support countries to design and develop programmes so that CAB-LA can be implemented, safely and effectively, for greatest impact. However, access to CAB-LA remains a challenge globally and making CAB-LA available at an affordable price in low- and middle-income countries is critical.
WHO welcomed the announcement of a voluntary licensing agreement for patents relating to CAB-LA between ViiV Healthcare and the Medicine Patent Pool. WHO is working with a consortium of partners, including AVAC, Unitaid, the Global Fund, UNAIDS and PEPFAR, to support the immediate need for delivery of CAB-LA as well as future generic production.
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COVID-19: Govt Announces New Regulations On Face Masks
The government has gazetted Statutory Instrument 169 of 2022 making it mandatory to wear face masks in public places.
According to the regulations, which were announced by the Minister of Health and Childcare, members of the public are obliged to wear masks indoors at workplaces and places to which the public has access or in public conveyances (taxis and commuter omnibuses and passenger trains and aeroplanes).
As for outdoors, face masks are mandatory for people who have not been vaccinated for COVID-19 “at least twice”. Reads SI 169/22:
THE Minister of Health has, in terms of section 8(1) of the Public Health (COVID-19 Prevention, Containment and Treatment) Regulations, 2020 (published in Statutory Instrument 77 of 2020), made the following order:—
1. This order may be cited as the Public Health (COVID-19 Prevention, Containment and Treatment) (National Lockdown) (No. 2) (Amendment) Order, 2022 (No. 42).
2. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Public Health (COVID-19 Prevention, Containment and Treatment) (National Lockdown) (No. 2) Order, 2020), published in Statutory Instrument 200 of 2020, the Public Health (COVID-19 Prevention, Containment and Treatment) (National Lockdown) (No. 2) Order, 2022), published in Statutory Instrument 67 of 2022, is amended by the insertion of the following paragraph after paragraph (f)—
“(g) the wearing of face masks is mandatory —
(i) indoors at workplaces and places to which the public has access, or in public conveyances (taxis and commuter and other buses, goods, public service vehicles and trains and aeroplanes carrying passengers);
(ii) outdoors in public places, except for those individuals who are fully vaccinated (that is to say those who have been vaccinated at least twice against COVID-19).”.
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