Zimbabwe launches HIV toolkit

Zimbabwe on Tuesday launched the world's first official HIV prevention, treatment and support toolkit, Xinhuanet reports.

The toolkit was developed by the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, Southern Africa HIV and AIDS Information Dissemination Service and the World Health Organization and was tested in Zimbabwe in March to determine its adaptability to other settings, Xinhuanet reports.

According to Xinhuanet, the toolkit is composed of eight modules that include basic facts about HIV/AIDS, and it provides guidelines on HIV/AIDS counseling, clinical management and education.

The toolkit will be translated into many other languages -- including French, Portuguese, Spanish and 16 African languages -- Xinhuanet reports.

Getachew Gizaw, IFRC's senior health officer for the Global Program on HIV and AIDS Health Care Department, said WHO has endorsed the toolkit, which makes it an international standard (Xinhuanet, 10/3).