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Rumbidzayi Zinyuke
Senior Reporter
CAMPUS radio stations are crucial instruments in the promotion of healthy lifestyles and addressing pressing issues like HIV/AIDS among students in tertiary institutions, Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister, Dr Jenfan Muswere, has said.
The Minister, who was represented by Director-Media Services in the Ministry, Mr George Chisoko, at a media workshop for campus radio station managers and presenters convened by the National Aids Council at the Zimbabwe Institute of Public Administration and Management in Darwendale yesterday, said the stations were important avenues of audience specific content and could provide education and guidance on HIV and various health challenges faced by students.
Journalists, presenters and producers, Dr Muswere added, have a significant role to play in information dissemination, shaping narratives and setting the agenda.
“Indeed Zimbabwe has recorded commendable progress towards ending AIDS by 2030 through achievement of key milestones such as the 95-95-95 fast track targets and epidemic control,” he said.
“However, a lot still needs to be done to end AIDS as a public health threat. This is where campus radio stations come in to play a key role to promote responsible behaviour and lifestyle consistent with nationally desired health goals and outcomes.
“Universities are large communities of students who still require guidance and knowledge about HIV. Students are vulnerable to HIV as more often they start experiencing independence for the first time in their lives.”
Dr Muswere said campus radio stations became useful information dissemination tools during the Covid-19 pandemic lockdown period. For the country to reduce new HIV infections among young people, there was a need for more targeted interventions, of which campus radio stations could be such an avenue, he added.
“Communities around universities are also key audiences of campus radio stations. Community health is closely intertwined with that of the various university populations and should find expression in these radio stations.
“As such, campus radio stations can greatly contribute to better community health outcomes by raising the intricate challenges and advocating for utilisation of health services,” said Dr Muswere.
National Aids Council communications director Ms Medelina Dube said young people were a critical demographic in the HIV epidemic control.
While HIV incidence has gone down in Zimbabwe, the rate of new HIV infections has been going up among the 15 to 24 age group.
“These are the students in colleges and tertiary institutions and that’s where they are getting exposed. There are a lot of challenges for young people. While we talk about the females mostly, the boys are also affected; therefore, it is critical that they get correct information on how they can protect themselves from getting sexually transmitted infections,” she said.
University of Zimbabwe Pachikomo FM station manager Dr Ngoni Muonwa said the workshop was crucial in ensuring campus radios become vehicles for information dissemination to young people.
“We have learned a lot in terms of how campus radios can develop their programmes and create partnerships with key organisations so that they can communicate effectively and on time and also provide relevant information to our cohort of students.
“Our campuses have a lot of students who are sexually active and the information that we gathered is important for our students,” he said.
Nust FM station manager Mr Bhekizulu Tshuma weighed in saying: “We understand that the country is working to end HIV, so as campus radio stations, we have an obligation to make sure that our programming addresses these issues.
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