Zimbabwe to host Africa World Aids Day

16 Nov, 2014 - 00:11 0 Views

The Sunday News

Lungile Tshuma Sunday News Correspondent
ZIMBABWE is set to hold the Africa World Aids Day commemorations on 1 December in Victoria Falls, becoming the third country in the continent to play host to such a big event.Rwanda and South Sudan held the event in 2012 and 2013 respectively.

National Aids Council (NAC) communications officer, Mrs Tadiwa Pfupa, said the holding of the event was a clear sign that the country was making great strides in dealing with the pandemic.

“It is an honour for Zimbabwe to be hosting an event of that magnitude. It shows that our response to HIV and Aids is significant and other countries recognise this,” Mrs Pfupa said.

“Preparations are at an advanced stage. Most countries within the union have confirmed their attendance. High level dignitaries involved in the response at international level have also confirmed their attendance.”

The commemorations which are co-ordinated by NAC will be held under the theme: “Getting to Zero in Africa – Africa’s Responsibility, Everyone’s Responsibility.”

Mrs Pfupa also said the event comes at a time when the country was “expanding the ART programme through decentralisation and outreach services in an effort to bring treatment closer to all those in need”.

About 800 000 people are on ART in Zimbabwe.

“Various pre-launch activities have been lined up as a build-up to the event. One of the major activities is family centred HIV testing and counselling. With this approach, parents are encouraged to present themselves and their children for testing at their nearest health centre.

“Mobile teams will also be moving around the country to test and counsel. Immunisation and growth monitoring of children as a way of identifying HIV exposed children has been scaled up and is already in place. Voluntary Medical Male Circumcision services are being offered at most health centres across the country as a way of reducing the possibility of HIV transmission,” Mrs Pfupa said.

World Aids Day is held annually on 1 December since 1988. Zimbabwe has since then been marking the event.

World Aids Day is an opportunity for people worldwide to unite in the fight against the disease, show their support for people living with HIV, and to remember those who have died.

Health studies estimate that 35 million people are living with HIV/Aids worldwide. More than 25 million people are said to have died globally from HIV/Aids since 1981, making it one of the most destructive pandemics in history.

 

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