Story by Abigirl Tembo, Health Editor
ENHANCED collaboration between the media and health officials has been cited as key in the fight against HIV and AIDS.
Addressing editors, media practitioners and officials from the Ministry of Health and Child Care, attending the National AIDS Council Editors Workshop in Chinhoyi this Wednesday, NAC board member, Ms Rumbidzai Zinyuke noted the importance of responsible and ethical reporting on HIV and AIDS.
“We have engaged in crucial discussions over the past two days, sharing invaluable insights into the challenges and progress we have made in this fight. The media has the power to disseminate accurate information, reduce stigma, and highlight the successes and struggles we face as a nation. Your role is paramount.”
Editors and station managers in attendance echoed Zinyuke’s sentiments, acknowledging the significant responsibility the media holds in shaping the national narrative around HIV.
“We would like to thank NAC for affording us this opportunity to learn from the experts. From here, we will be able to disseminate to our audience the correct information about HIV and AIDS, especially for ZBC as the national broadcaster, we have a huge audience hence we will be able to reach a lot of people and educate them so that the country reaches its goal of ending HIV and AIDS,” Radio Zimbabwe Station Manager Sifelani Chikwape said.
“One of the key takeaways from the workshop is the issue of U.S. funding towards HIV programmes in Zimbabwe. There is need to realign our message, to look at the current situation, and to inform communities of the current situation and how government is trying to respond to whatever is happening in the HIV sector,” Health Times’ editor, Michael Gwarisa noted.
The workshop covered a broad range of issues critical to the national HIV response, including mental health, the reduction of TB stigma, artificial intelligence in cancer screening and epidemic control.
Another key area of focus was the elimination of mother-to-child transmission of HIV, a crucial step towards ending AIDS as a public health threat by 2030.
