The ministry said the HIV infection rate declined from 18.1 percent last year to 15.6 percent this year in people aged 15 to 49 years. The number of deaths due to AIDS also dropped from 2,500 a week to 2,214 a week.
Bruce Campbell, the United Nations Fund for Population Activities (UNFPA) representative in Zimbabwe, said the decline can be attributed to country's anti-HIV health and awareness programs for the youth.
Campbell said, "Young people are having fewer partners and using more condoms."
He added, "They have heard the messages, taken action, and are being safer. Now we must continue our combined efforts to ensure national HIV prevention programs have an even greater reach."
