adminpandemic in Zimbabwe and the Sadc region.
Launching the programme for 2010 and 2012 in Harare yesterday, Health and Child Welfare Minister Henry Madzorera said the programme’s thrust was to respond to HIV and Aids in the country and help reduce the prevalence rate.
Sadc representatives who have worked closely with the Ministry of Health and Child Welfare in rolling out HIV and Aids research capability in the region were also present at the launch.
Minister Madzorera lauded the Research Advisory Committee (RAC) team and National Aids Council (NAC) for developing the priorities that would advance the significant milestone already made on HIV and Aids.
“Irrefutable evidence is the cornerstone of any meaningful response.
“Despite the milestone in the national response there are numerous challenges and impediments to our work including absence of irrefutable evidence,” the minister said.
Minister Madzorera said there was need to continue surveillance on the pandemic to ensure effective response.
“There is need to investigate various social and economic and policy ramifications.
“The challenges it brings along are very essential for an effective national response.
“As it forms an informed basis for the development and implementation of relevant policies and programmes,” he said.
Minister Madzorera said research was a major ingredient towards the scaling up of national response to HIV and Aids.
“The call for evidence informed policies and programmes has been getting louder not only in the country but in the region as well, where the pandemic is most felt,” said the Minister.
The completion of these priorities and their launch will mark a significant step towards the institutionalisation of the use of evidence in policy formulation and programming.
The country has made great strides in giving expression to major partners locally and outside Zimbabwe such as Sadc.
Sadc has already set aside US$7 million to support implementation of HIV and Aids research topics and interventions in the region.
National Aids Council has also set aside small grant research funding scheme in support of the priorities.
Online Reporter