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Ivan Zhakata
Herald Correspondent
The media has a critical role to play in highlighting HIV/Aids issues, including capturing both successes and deficiencies in the response, Minister of Health and Child Care Dr Douglas Mombeshora has said.
Speaking at the National Aids Council media awards ceremony today, Dr Mombeshora said robust policies and programmes come from the broad-based engagement that is influenced by awareness and access to information.
“While our 95-95-95 coverage is commendable among adults, we are still lagging in terms of children,” Dr Mombeshora said.
“We are also witnessing more cases of HIV among adolescent girls and young women and key populations. We therefore need multi-stakeholder engagement to identify and address challenges that cause bottlenecks in these areas.
“We are counting on the media to report on such gaps and amplify the voices of those affected so that together we can find lasting solutions to the challenges. While there are thousands of reporters doing this work, some are going the extra mile as they are driven by the passion to see a better society.
“Today is about celebrating those who go an extra mile – who do not wait for news but seek news and creatively report it to create social change,” said the minister.
Zimpapers dominated the awards, with 10 reporters from the stable walking away with prizes.
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