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Leonard Ncube Victoria Falls Reporter
TRADITIONAL leaders want to be involved in HIV/Aids programmes saying this would boost the fight against the pandemic in rural areas where about 60 percent of the country’s population lives.Chief Shana of Jambezi who delivered a solidarity message at the continental World Aids Day (WAD) in Victoria Falls on Monday on behalf of the chiefs’ council, said traditional leaders were influential opinion leaders.
Chief Shana said the Ministry of Health and Child Care should extend training to traditional leaders so they are empowered to educate their subjects on the dangers of the pandemic.
“Teach us as well so we can talk to our subjects. We’ve to be educated so that we’re able to explain prevention methods as well as skills of living positively,” said Chief Shana.
The National Aids Council (NAC) two weeks ago held an Aids awareness conference in Victoria Falls for traditional leaders in Matabeleland North in preparation for the annual WAD.
A number of pre-event activities were lined up and these included HIV/Aids testing, counselling, male circumcision and road shows which also included a media tour around Hwange district.
“We recently attended a workshop where we were told widely about HIV/Aids. What we’re saying is, include us as chiefs in all your programmes and we’ll use our jurisdiction to influence change in our subjects so that the country can achieve its goals,” said Chief Shana.
The country has an Aids prevalence rate of 15 percent and about 1,5 people are living with the virus while 800,000 are on Art. The government targets to eradicate Aids by 2030 in line with the African Union goals.
“We were taught to monitor pregnant women in our areas so that we encourage their husbands to accompany them for testing. To all men out there, please if your wife is pregnant, accompany her to register and for testing so that we prevent new infections. What we were taught at the workshop has opened our minds and if government can involve us in its programmes we’ll work with you until we attain zero new infections and zero HIV/Aids,” said Chief Shana.
This year’s commemorations were held under the theme: “Getting to Zero in Africa, Africa’s responsibility, everyone’s responsibility”.
Health and Child Care Minister Dr David Parirenyatwa also appealed to everyone to take responsibility while also urging those circumcised not to take circumcision as a “torch that one can light everywhere.”
Male circumcision reportedly reduces the risk of HIV transmission by up to 60 percent.
Bongani Ndlovu
Online Reporter