Robin Muchetu in Rusape
THE National Aids Council (NAC) has officially launched its 2024 to 2025 logo and theme encouraging communities to continue with the fight and stopping new infections.
This years theme is “Take the Rights Path, my health, my rights, our responsibility”.
The Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution Misheck Mugadza who launched the logo and theme in Rusape where the World AIDS Day commemorations said the logo seeks to give an identity to this years theme and serves as a guide to aspirations and interventions towards ending AIDS by 2030.
“Ending AIDS requires that we reach and engage everyone who is living with and at the risk of getting infected with HIV. That probably speaks about all of us here today and away.
The theme highlights the importance of human rights in ending AIDS, promoting inclusion and eradicating stigma. It calls on policy makers and citizens to address the inequalities that hinder progress in ending AIDS,” said Minister Mugadza.
He said it is critical to protect the rights of everyone living with and at risk of HIV, include people who have been most excluded and marginalized and also ensure gender equity.
“Its the duty of every individual to access health services and everyone’s responsibility to ensure that there is an enabling environment for people to access health services. As a country we are having challenges with pediatric HIV, so it is our duty ladies and gentlemen that we put the rights of our children first and responsibility to access health services for our children,” he added.
The World AIDS Campaign Logo Campaign Logo Elements were also explained by Minister Mugadza.
“The Red Ribbon is the international symbol of HIV and AIDS awareness. It stands for: Care and Concern: It is being worn by increasing numbers of people around the world to demonstrate their care and concern about HIV and AIDS – for those who are living with HIV, for those who are ill, for those who have died and for those who care for and support those directly affected,” he said.
He said the Red Ribbon is intended to be a symbol of hope – that the search for a vaccine and cure to halt the suffering is successful and the quality of life improves for those living with the virus.
“Support: The Red Ribbon offers symbolic support for those living with HIV, for the continuing education of those not infected, for maximum efforts to find effective treatments, cures or vaccines, and for those who have lost friends, family members or loved ones to AIDS.
The Zimbabwe Map in the Campaign logo shows that the campaign message is for Zimbabwe,” he added.
The green square, he said, emphasizes the importance of life.
“After having done everything in the right way at the right time we will be able to give our people more life, he said.
WAD celebrations are being held at John Cowie Primary School in Rusape.
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