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INFORMATION, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister, Monica Mutsvangwa, has urged the media to continue reporting on HIV and AIDS.
Speaking during the 2022 National AIDS Council media awards yesterday, Minister Mutsvangwa said the media has been a pivotal player in pursuit of the objectives of the national response to HIV.
“The HIV burden has transformed in Zimbabwe over the years, owing to high impact HIV prevention and treatment interventions, HIV incidence and prevalence have significantly declined while access to treatment has widened,” she said.
“The media has been a pivotal player in pursuit of the objectives of the national response to HIV, educating and empowering the nation to avoid contracting HIV, living with the virus, shattering stigma and discrimination, and providing hope to the infected and affected, as well as holding policy makers to account for policy implementation and resource allocation as well utilization.
“Let me salute the media for keeping the HIV story alive over the years despite competition from various stories, including other diseases and emerging pandemics, wars and disasters as well as political and economic development of the time.”
Minister Mutsvangwa said it was imperative that the media continue to play its educative and watchdog roles over the response to HIV.
“It is, therefore, important to guard against complacency based on the achievements we have recorded,” she said.
“In this regard, I would like to exhort the media to continue affording the HIV story its relevance and space,
“If we entertain any complacency, it is very easy to transfer this to the public and therefore reverse the gains we have recorded so far.”
She said a lot of work still needed to be done as the world explores the links between HIV and various diseases and their social and economic aspects.
“Some of you may think the HIV story is tired but I urge you rethink this – HIV is not a straight-jacket, it is as I have already alluded to, interlinked with development at various levels and other morbidities, including tuberculosis and non-communicable diseases,” Minister Mutsvangwa said.
She paid tribute to the National Aids Council for introducing the media awards, which have rejuvenated HIV reporting, in particular, and health reporting, in general.
“There has been a lot of fake news flying around, with some faceless online reports causing alarm and despondency within the nation,” she said.
“Excellence, for which today’s awards is all about, shuns fake news and seeks to develop while being critical.
“My Ministry strongly supports these efforts by NAC and the awards, which are creating a healthy competition resulting in improved coverage, not just of HIV but health and development reporting at large.”
Online Reporter