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an Italian Non-Governmental Organisation.
Speaking after a three week HIV and Aids awareness campaign held in Chaona, Centenary area under the theme ‘Stop Aids Keep The Promise’ recently, NAC district co-ordinator for Muzarabani, Mr Richard Chasima, lauded CESVI for the financial support and their partners PSI Zimbabwe for the support.
He said more than 500 people had already been tested in the area under the campaign, adding that the number would increase as it spread to other areas.
“We managed to offer voluntary counselling and testing (VCT) to a large number of people through the help of our partner, PSI Zimbabwe who offered testing on sight,” he said.
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Mr Chasima urged CESVI to support more programmes in the future.
“We are urging CESVI to finance more campaigns in our furthest wards.
“We have a problem of mobility due to shortage of resources. Bad roads severely have affected our operations negatively.
“Our plans are to get to the lower valley in Dande and areas close to the border,” he said.
Mr Chasima said the campaign had been so far successful in other areas such as Chadereka, Mutemakungu and Gado.
In another interview, the councillor for the ward, Ms Sarudzai Mutyavaviri, thanked CESVI, NAC and other stakeholders for arming the ward with life saving information.
“People have come out in their large numbers for testing.
“In the first week they were few, but as the weeks progressed, the numbers increased.
“We are happy that people are coming out in the open and that services they could have got 30 kilometres away where the hospital is situated are now closer.
“CESVI also supplied all the expenses on food requirements and other necessities, we never forked out money for the programme,” she said.
Community representative, Mr Stanley Mapondera, said that they were happy that VCT services had been brought closer to the people. We are happy that people came out in their large numbers for testing and are very grateful to CESVI for organising this campaign.
“People are coming out in the open with their status and seeking help, these are great strides that this community has made,” he said.
Online Reporter