Zim unveils World Aids Day theme

Mirirai Nsingo

Zimbabwe has unveiled the theme logo and theme song ahead of the World AIDS day set for December 1.

Unveiling the theme, National AIDs Council’s Advocacy Coordinator, Trust Govere said the theme for this year’s commemorations was Equalise: Access, Empowerment, Inclusion, Opportunity, Uphold Human Rights.

“We had to blend the global theme with a localised theme, the focus is on equalising opportunities for all as part of the country’s HIV response.

“While the country has made a lot of strides in its HIV response, more still needs to be done to ensure communities, especially those considered as key populations have access, are empowered and included with opportunities to fight HIV.

“The issue of upholding human rights can never be over emphasised as it is critical in the HIV response, we are happy to say the country decriminalized HIV willful infection law, which had potential to derail HIV gains,” Govere said.

This year’s World AIDS day commemorations will be held in Marondera, Mashonaland East province at a time emerging challenges to the HIV response such as rise in non-communicable diseases have come under spotlight.

A high infection rate among young girls and women are among other challenges the country has continued to face in its programming.

To arrest the high prevalence HIV among young girls, the country through National Aids Council has employed initiatives such as the sister to sister, brother to brother programmes that seek to empower young girls and boys on comprehensive sexual reproductive health rights as part of its HIV response.

“We are glad to be hosting the commemorations in our province at a time when we are facing a myriad of challenges in our HIV response programme.

“As a country we have employed various strategies to arrest challenges face by young people such as the sister to sister and brother to brother initiatives as we move towards ending AIDS,” said Goromonzi district AIDs coordinator.