Faith Leaders Urged to Back Science as Zimbabwe Pushes to End Mother-to-Child HIV Transmission

By Evans Jona

HARARE — Religious leaders have been urged to play a decisive role in supporting Zimbabwe’s efforts to eliminate mother-to-child transmission of HIV, amid concerns that stigma, delayed health-seeking behaviour and overreliance on faith healing continue to undermine progress under the Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission (PMTCT) programme.

The call was made during the Engagement Meeting with Religious Leaders on Strengthening Support for the PMTCT Programme, held at Holiday Inn, Harare, and organised by the Ministry of Health and Child Care, the National AIDS Council (NAC) and AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) Zimbabwe. The meeting brought together senior health officials, faith leaders from various denominations, civil society organisations and development partners to address the intersection between religion, health and community wellbeing.

Addressing delegates, Director of the AIDS and Tuberculosis (TB) Unit in the Ministry of Health and Child Care, Dr Owen Mugurungi, highlighted men’s poor health-seeking behaviour as a major obstacle in the fight against HIV.

“Men often delay testing and treatment, and this secrecy has serious consequences for their partners,” Dr Mugurungi said. “When men are not open about their health status, women and unborn children are put at risk, and this directly affects PMTCT outcomes.”

Participants at the meeting echoed similar concerns, warning that silence around men’s health continues to fuel infections within families. One participant noted that secrecy remains a major driver of risk.

“Many men suffer in silence and refuse to test or disclose,” the participant said. “By the time the truth comes out, their wives may already be infected, and sometimes it is during pregnancy.”

Health experts also underscored the importance of early pregnancy registration, describing it as a cornerstone of PMTCT success. Dr Bridgette Kagonye warned that late antenatal attendance often delays lifesaving interventions.

“Early pregnancy registration is critical because it allows us to test early, counsel early and treat early,” Dr Kagonye said. “When women register late, we lose valuable time that could have protected both the mother and the baby.”

Faith leaders used the platform to openly confront beliefs and practices within religious communities that affect health outcomes. Union for the Development of Apostolic Churches in Zimbabwe Africa (UDACIZA) General Secretary, Dr Rev Innocent Chitanda, called on churches to correct misconceptions surrounding HIV and PMTCT.

“As faith leaders, we must give our congregants the truth,” Dr Rev Chitanda said. “Prayer must support treatment, not replace it. Encouraging early testing and adherence to medication is part of our spiritual responsibility.”

Similarly, Bishop Charakupa of the Union for the Development of Indigenous Churches in Zimbabwe (UNICIZA) acknowledged that some apostolic sects still rely solely on prayer rather than hospital treatment, saying honest dialogue was necessary to change harmful practices.

“We cannot deny that some beliefs discourage people from going to hospital,” Bishop Charakupa said. “But faith and medicine are not enemies. Protecting life is central to our teachings, and seeking medical care does not weaken faith.”

Health authorities and partners stressed that religious leaders are uniquely positioned to influence attitudes, reduce stigma and encourage health-seeking behaviour, particularly among pregnant women and families. The meeting reaffirmed that meaningful collaboration with faith institutions is central to sustaining Zimbabwe’s gains in HIV prevention.

Zimbabwe has recorded significant progress in reducing new HIV infections among children, but officials warned that persistent myths, misinformation and resistance to treatment within some communities continue to threaten these gains.

AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) Zimbabwe Country Programs Director, Dr Ernest Chikwati, said continued engagement with religious leaders would strengthen collaboration and build trust at community level.

“Continued meetings such as this foster trust, understanding and collective responsibility,” Dr Chikwati said. “When religious leaders are equipped with correct information, communities listen, behaviours change and lives are saved.”

Dr Chikwati added that AHF remains committed to supporting Zimbabwe’s PMTCT programme through sustained community engagement and partnerships.

“Ending mother-to-child transmission of HIV is achievable,” he said. “But it requires all sectors, health, faith and community leadership, to work together.”