Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 2005. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
South African Press Association - September 28, 2005
Zimbabwe has one of the highest HIV infection rates in the world. An estimated one in four Zimbabweans is HIV-positive.
Tendai Nyakuedzwa, a laboratory scientist at Chitungwiza General Hospital, a large public hospital about 20km from the capital Harare, was cited as saying there was a "critical shortage" of reagents used in HIV-testing.
Nyakuedzwa said machines used for accurate HIV-testing had not been operating at the hospital for four months because of the lack of the reagents.
The hospital's HIV viral load machine has also been lying unused for the past year because of the lack of reagents, he said. The chemicals have to be imported from neighbouring South Africa, but Zimbabwe is facing critical shortages of foreign currency needed to pay for such imports.
"We have to make-do with only two rapid on-spot HIV tests. But in the case of determinant results, we need the machines that, as it is, we cannot use now due to their state of disrepair," Nyakuedzwa said.
Patients have the option of paying for tests in private medical institutions, but their prices are steep and may be beyond the reach of many.
Viral load tests are also not being conducted at Harare Central Hospital, the Herald said. Specimens have to be sent to private laboratories for testing.
"The bulk of our laboratory equipment has been lying idle for many years and there is nothing new in us taking specimens to private laboratories," one laboratory scientist was quoted as saying.
The Herald said several patients with HIV/Aids "had to be turned away" in the last year from both Harare Central Hospital and Chitungwiza General Hospital.
Health Minister David Parirenyatwa blamed the problems on Zimbabwe's foreign currency shortages.
"The prevailing foreign currency shortages are hampering efforts to import reagents and spares for equipment, he said.
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