Online Reporter
Yeukai Karengezeka-Chisepo-Herald Correspondent
THE National AIDS Council is intensifying efforts to curb new HIV infections among young people through the “Not in My Ward” campaign, which seeks to mobilise communities against practices that expose adolescents to HIV, teenage pregnancies, and child marriages.
Speaking during a sensitisation workshop for Harare Metropolitan councillors held in Mazowe last week, NAC Harare provincial manager Mr Adonijah Muzondiona said councillors had a critical role to play in driving HIV prevention initiatives at the community level.
He said adolescent girls and young women remained particularly vulnerable to new HIV infections, with poverty and unequal economic relationships exposing them to exploitation by older men.
“Boys and young people are very key in stopping the spread of HIV. We have more new infections coming from adolescent girls and young women,” said Mr Muzondiona.
He said councillors from Harare, Chitungwiza, Epworth and Ruwa would be expected to adopt and champion the “Not in My Ward” campaign through their existing community structures. Under the initiative, councillors will engage parents, religious leaders, and other community stakeholders to identify and address practices that increase young people’s vulnerability to HIV.
“They will sit down with their structures and campaign through the meetings that they hold, that in this ward, we would not want to see practices that expose young girls and young boys to HIV,” he said.
Mr Muzondiona said economic hardships were also contributing to the vulnerability of young girls, with some older men taking advantage of girls from poorer households.
“If we don’t do that, the issue of HIV will continue, because what is happening is those men with resources take advantage of our poorer girls,” he said.
Secretary for Harare Metropolitan Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Dr Shingirayi Mushamba, commended NAC for leading the campaign, saying it had been successfully adapted into initiatives such as “Not in My School” and “Not in My Ward”.
“These community-driven programmes are playing a critical role in preventing new HIV infections, reducing teenage pregnancies and ending child marriages,” said Dr Mushamba.
He said the initiatives were in line with the National Development Strategy 2, which identifies improved health outcomes, human capital development, and social protection as key pillars towards the attainment of Vision 2030.
Dr Mushamba said NAC’s prevention programmes, treatment coordination, community mobilisation, and partnerships were contributing towards the creation of a healthier and more productive population.
Meanwhile, Harare councillor for Ward 42, Councillor Elvis Ruzane, said the workshop had equipped him with information that he would take back to his community.
He said he would encourage residents to reject child marriages, particularly practices allegedly promoted by some religious sects, while encouraging community members to get tested for HIV and know their status.
Chitungwiza Ward 8 councillor Johannes Mwandama also pledged to cascade information on HIV and sexually transmitted infections to young people in his ward.
He said he would advance the “Not in My Ward” campaign through feedback meetings and other community engagements.
Harare Metropolitan Provincial Medical Director Dr Innocent Hove said the province had close to 200 000 people receiving HIV treatment, with more than 98 percent of those on treatment having achieved viral suppression.
He said the figures demonstrated the progress being made in HIV treatment and prevention, while urging people living with HIV to take their medication consistently.
“We encourage people to take their medications as and when they are prescribed,” said Dr Hove.
He said HIV treatment had also become easier, with most patients now taking a single daily tablet containing a combination of medicines.
