Netty  Musanhu, Action Aid In Zimbabwe's HIV and Aids cordinator said a recent survey conducted by her organisation in Manicaland province revealed that shortage of CD4 count machines and the inaccessibility of Anti Retroviral drugs (ARVs), have resulted in people who tested HIV positive four years ago, depending on cotrimoxazole only.

"It is saddening to note that HIV positive people in Nyanga and Rusape rural areas are not on ARVs mainly because there are no CD4 count machines to test and determine their HIV loads, moreso health centres in the area do not have ARVs" said  Musanhu.

Musanhu blamed the government and some NGOs for diverting resources meant for HIV/AIDS to cholera and ignoring HIV positive people whom she said are most vulnerable to diseases.

"Most NGOs and the government have now shifted their attention to the cholera epidemic, forgetting that HIV and AIDS is also a national disaster" she said.

Musanhu said hunger and mulnutrition have also contributed immensely to the deaths of AIDS patients, indicating that most famillies in the area are going for more than two days without a meal despite taking cotrimoxazole tablets.