Experts agonise over lack of support on HIV cure

 Thandeka Matebesi 

HIV cure research experts have bemoaned the lack of requisite infrastructure and adequate support systems from government and other stakeholders which is slowing down efforts to start clinical trials on HIV cure.

 Even though the country has made  great strides in the fight against the HIV/AIDS pandemic by consistently working on prevention, treatment, management strategies, a cure remains the ultimate goal. 

This year the country became one of the first Sub-Saharan countries to approve the use of Cabotegravir a pre-exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) drug alongside Uganda, a move set to improve uptake of HIV treatment and management systems. 

HIV cure research and public health expert Erasmus Gwidza said while a complete eradication of the virus is the goal, there are other strategies being employed to keep the virus under control. 

“Unfortunately we haven’t started doing HIV cure clinical trials like our Ugandan counterparts but that does not mean there is no progress with regards other cure strategies. 

While we can get funding through grants and donations for HIV cure research programmes, we still need infrastructure and support from various stakeholders. That has been the major reason why we haven’t started clinical trials in Zimbabwe,” said Dr Gwidza. 

He added; “Experts are currently seized with communication and advocacy for continued adherence to antiretroviral therapy (ART) and sensitising the public on the progress towards cure.”

Despite the delay on the HIV cure clinical trials, experts have applauded current measures to control the virus seen as a prelude to the ultimate development of a cure in the near future. 

According to experts, two types of cure are under research; 1) A Traditional or classic cure aimed at completely eliminating the HIV virus from the body. 2)Control cure aimed at suppressing HIV viral load, keeping it below the level of detection without antiretroviral treatment (ART). 

Public health specialist, Cathrine Murombedzi who is also living with HIV said there was need for a central cure research centre that could benefit the whole of Sub-Saharan Africa. 

“In Africa, the Cure clinical trials will take place in Uganda, at least for now it is the only country pursuing that, with Dr Cissy Kityo among the researchers on gene therapy. It is very expensive and it would be prudent for countries to pool resources and run one centre.

All trials have a protocol. Governments take their time to allow trials.  Teams of expertise map the way forward, for example in Zimbabwe, Medicines Control Authority of Zimbabwe (MCAZ) must give the nod to the medicines on trial. Due diligence is taken.

Someone out there did ARV trials to give people living with HIV a new lease of life,” said Murombedzi. 

Murombedzi recalled when Zimbabwe once participated in the HIV vaccine  Imbokodo trial which was stopped in 2018.

“We have had other researches taking place, we, together with South Africa, Zambia and Malawi participated in the HIV vaccine trial, Imbokodo which was stopped in South Africa in July 2020. Many researches are being done and we are asking those doing the researching to keep us  informed”, she said.

The Zimbabwe’s fight against HIV saw Aids-related deaths fall from an estimated 130 000 in 2002 to 20 000 in 2021.