In the center of the battle between tradition and modern medicine

Recommendations. To the government of Zimbabwe: On access to health care treatment for PLWHA - On the right to earn a livelihood - On women's rights - On the participation of civil society and PLWHA in HIV/AIDS-related programs. -- To international donors, including the US and UK governments -- To the Global Fund to fight AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria -- To United Nations agencies working on HIV/AIDS programs in Zimbabwe including UNAIDS, UNDP, and UNICEF. -- Methodology. -- Background. Political environment - Social and economic environment - Health sector environment. -- HIV/AIDS epidemic in Zimbabwe. -- Epidemiological situation -- Women's vulnerability to infection -- Decline in HIV/AIDS prevalence (2000-2004) -- The impact of HIV/AIDS -- HIV testing and treatment. -- Human rights and HIV/AIDS In Zimbabwe. -- Government policies and practices that exacerbate the pandemic: The impact of Operation Murambatsvina -- Arrest and harassment of informal traders. -- Violations of women's rights: discriminatory inheritance laws and practices - Gender based violence - Stigma and discrimination in the family. --Discriminatory and arbitrary health and social welfare policies: High user fees for health services. -- Lack of exemptions for user fees for poor and vulnerable persons: Requirement of CD4 test to receive ART (Antiretroviral Therapy). -- Government restrictions on activities of HIV/AIDS NGOs and PLWHA. -- National and international responses to HIV/AIDS. -- Zimbabwe's obligations under regional and international law: The right to health - The right to information - The right to work - Women's rights. -- Conclusion. -- Acknowledgements.

Forty years ago, the age-old battle against infectious diseases as a major threat to human health was believed close to being won. However, by the late twentieth century, the increase of emerging and reemerging infectious diseases was evident in both low and high income countries. About 30 new infectious diseases have been identified in the last 20 years. Among the "new" diseases, and most importantly, the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) epidemic, with 40 million persons infected and 25 million deaths since its first description, presents one of the most significant health, societal and security challenges facing the global community. The interaction of HIV/AIDS with tuberculosis, malaria and bacterial infections have increased HIV-related morbidity and mortality, and in turn, the HIV pandemic has brought about devastating increases in tuberculosis. Understanding the population impact and the dynamics of infection diseases in the most affected region is critical to efforts to reduce the morbidity and mortality of such infections, and for decisions on where to use limited resources in the fight against infections. This book aims to contribute to these efforts by offering a demographic and epidemiological perspective on emerging and reemerging infections in sub-Saharan Africa.

"Zimbabwe stands at the epicentre of the global HIV epidemic. Families are severely depleted by death and migration. HIV infection is often lived in secrecy despite obvious physical manifestations. This study seeks to describe the specificity of the Zimbabwean context as it affects the lives of HIV-positive children in the eastern town of Mutare at a time of severe crisis in the state, marked by impoverishment, organised violence and mass death." -- Book jacket.

There has been a tremendous progress to the available plethora of literature on young men masculinities and HIV risk behaviors. This book integrated theories of masculinities that shape young men's HIV risk behaviors using available empirical evidence. The book focused firmly on Zimbabwe young men masculinities and risk behaviors, Young Men as a Focal Point for an effective Behavioral Change. Therefore, the book is an essential reading for policy makers, program developers and scholars of young men masculinities that are related to HIV risk behaviors.