Staff Reporter

GWERU — The Midlands AIDS Service Organisation (MASO) has rebranded to Multi AID Support Organisation as it embraces new interventions and spreads coverage beyond the province.

Speaking during the new name launch, MASO founding chief executive officer, Ticharwa Masimira said the unveiling of the new name and strategy was a sign of growth and evolvement after 33 years of dedicated work in HIV response.

Masimira said the new MASO is embracing new interventions which reflect its commitment to remain relevant in a fast-changing environment.

“The change is a quest to address current developmental challenges that are devastating our communities which include climate change and environmental degradation while building communities’ resilience to face and address the challenges,” he said.

“The new MASO is seeking to expand its horizons to cover new geographical space beyond Midlands to become a national organisation.”

Masimira said the change is coming from a backdrop of comprehensive success stories, multi-contextual experiences and strategic partnerships and synergies where the new MASO is seeking to broaden the scope of its interventions beyond HIV and AIDS.

“This is especially critical in the context of the third Sustainable Development Goal (SDG-3) which has a target to end the epidemic by 2030.”

Masimira said the organisation will continue to offer wide-ranging life-changing support services and will be alive to the multi-dimensional nature of the challenges of Zimbabwean societies.

“HIV will remain part of new interventions through mainstreaming and integration and the organisation will address it through its strategic pillar of health and well-being,” he said.

MASO will continue to work with the most marginalised and vulnerable members of the community whose core mandate and responsibility include working with women, children and young people.

Masimira said the new vision of MASO seeks to drive communities’ self-determination, unity and progress and build their capacity to be in charge of their development destiny where communities drive their own agenda for sustainable development in line with the government mantra “leaving no one behind” as espoused in Vision 2030.

“The organisation envisions communities that are self-reliant and kill the dependency syndrome which destroys development,” he said.

Masimira said despite change of name, the organisation will remain a private voluntary organisation that will continue to complement government efforts by aligning its programming to be relevant to national policies such as National Development Strategy 1, while incorporating regional and international policies such as Agenda 2063 and Sustainable Development Goals.

He said MASO has weathered many storms throughout its journey of development, hence it has remained standing since its establishment in 1991.

MASO brand ambassador Dr Smelly Dube said she was proud to be part of MASO`s growth and new trajectory.
She said MASO is an organisation that has established itself as a brand in communities and is well known for its comprehensive programmes that target the most vulnerable community members.