Harare (New Ziana) – The media should constantly report on HIV and AIDS as part of its contribution towards the country’s attainment of human and economic development, a cabinet minister said on Thursday.
Speaking at the 2022 National Aids Council (NAC) Media Awards ceremony, Minister of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services, Monica Mutsvangwa said people should not regard the HIV/AIDS story as tired, adding that HIV is interlinked with development at various levels and other illnesses, such as tuberculosis and non-communicable diseases.
“The relevancy of the HIV story lies in its intricate association with other epidemics, non-communicable diseases and emerging epidemics as well as overall health and wellbeing,” she said.
She said the media played a pivotal role in promoting the HIV response agenda, noting: “It’s therefore important to guard against complacency based on the achievements we have recorded.”
“The media should continue affording the HIV story its relevance and space. If we entertain any complacency, it is very easy to transfer this to the public and therefore reverse the gains we have recorded so far,” Mutsvangwa said.
She also said in as much as there were emerging pandemics, such as COVID-19, it was important for the local media not to lose sight of HIV.
Despite the severity of the epidemic, HIV/AIDS transmission and prevalence in Zimbabwe has been on the decline in recent years.
“HIV incidence and prevalence have significantly declined while access to treatment has widened. Awareness of HIV as a threat to wellbeing and national development has reached over 93% and we now sit on a better place with informed citizenry and primed to achieve the National Development Strategy 1 goals of improving quality of life and increasing life expectancy, which are central to human happiness and economic progress,” Mutsvangwa added.
Seven journalists were awarded certificates of excellence in HIV/AIDS reporting, as well as NAC strategic partners in recognition of their support.
New Ziana
