Since the start of the COVID-19 lockdown, the Zimbabwe TB and HIV response has seen a substantial reduction in the number of clients receiving services.
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In a country with one of the worst HIV and TB burdens globally, the authors argue that the diversion of resources, including financial, to the COVID-19 response at the expense of the HIV and TB response should be avoided.
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There is an urgent need to protect essential HIV and TB health prevention and treatment services and to resist the ongoing verticalization of COVID-19 services.
Abstract
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has challenged health systems worldwide. In Zimbabwe, the COVID-19 response has seen the diversion of human capital, equipment, and other resources that were meant for the HIV and tuberculosis (TB) programmes. In a country with one of the worst HIV and TB burdens globally, the authors discuss this public health dilemma of sustained HIV and TB services in the context of a new threat – COVID-19.