Tag Archives: Dr Bernard Madzima

Our HIV programmes should be led by science-Dr Madzima

 

NAC CEO, Dr Bernard Madzima, addressing Parliamentarians at the New Parliament Building

 

BY MUNYARADZI BLESSING DOMA

 

Zimbabwe’s HIV programmes should be guided by science if we are to attain the goal of ending AIDS by 2030, National AIDS Council (NAC) Chief Executive Officer, Dr Bernard Madzima has said.

Dr Madzima said that it would be most appreciated if the evidence and data gathered in local.

He said this while speaking at the Parliamentarians HIV and AIDS Sensitization Workshop organised by NAC at the New Parliament Building on Friday.

Dr Madzima was updating legislators on the International Conference on AIDS and STIs in Africa (ICASA) 2023 which the country hosted, as he added that it was a great success.

Dr Madzima also said the ICASA 2023 report which is now out, spoke to several issues.

“The outcomes of ICASA 2023 spoke also to issues of leadership; that we need a strong leadership if we are going to have success in the HIV space, but also to have our programmes in Zimbabwe being led by science, being led by evidence.

“We want to ensure that we implement programmes where we have evidence and data to show us and this data will be most appreciated if its local data.

“So we want to encourage our scientists to research and also the other issue which came out was that communities should take charge of HIV programmes.

“So all this is now guiding the HIV and AIDS programme as we go towards the 2030 targets,” said Dr Madzima.

He also applauded President Emmerson Mnangagwa for his commitment for the country to host ICASA 2023.

 “I know some of you really attended the events which took place in Victoria Falls and in Harare.

“The report for ICASA 2023 is out and I would like to say that it was a great success and I would really want to thank all Zimbabweans, starting with his Excellency, the President DR E.D. Mnangagwa for his commitment to hosting the event.

“The country showcased its excellency in various aspects including tourism and indeed it showed that Zimbabwe was open for business,” added Dr Madzima.

The ICASA 2023 report shows that 8 118 participants from 105 countries convened for the conference and women were 45 percent of that number.

Last year was the second time the country has hosted ICASA, after initially hosting it in 2015.

 

Journalists play critical role in ensuring a healthy nation-Minister Muswere

Minister of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services, Dr Jenfan Muswere

BY MUNYARADZI BLESSING DOMA recently in CHINHOYI

Minister of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services, Dr Jenfan Muswere has said journalists play a critical role in ensuring a healthy nation as they disseminate the much needed information to combat the spread of diseases.
Minister Muswere said the media’s role on the dissemination of information on diseases like HIV and AIDS, cholera and Covid-19 can never underestimated.
He was speaking at a media workshop organised by the National AIDS Council (NAC) in Chinhoyi last week.
The workshop was meant to update the media on the response to HIV and related conditions and also to discuss how the media can contribute towards ending AIDS by 2030.
“Journalists have a role to play in national development, journalists have a role to play in health matters and in nation building because the health of the population defines the past, defines the current circumstances, the challenges, opportunities and the resilience, the dedication and commitment of Zimbabweans.
“The health of the nation also defines the future of our country and journalists have a role to play as we journey towards an upper middle income society by the year 2030,” he said.
He added that he was advised that the country had done extremely well to reduce the HIV prevalence and NAC attributes part of that success to the role of the media in raising awareness, in educating the population of Zimbabwe, in informing the nation of Zimbabwe.
“The role of the journalists, the media in articulating critical issues whether its transmission of HIV and AIDS, or the most important aspect in terms of stigmatization and the same time the role of the media in ensuring that drug provision, in ensuring that we leave no one behind, that all the people in the four corners of our country are knowledgeable on the issues of HIV and AIDS.
“Knowledge is power and education is the key and education is being supported through a deliberate segmented approach in English and other important local languages.
“The media is in a position to articulate with ease the challenges, the behaviours that are expected, the health solutions that are available in our country for us to be able to achieve the success story in terms of the HIV prevalence in our country and Zimbabwe has managed and achieved and score significant gains as we combat epidemics and pandemics in our country.
“All successes stories are attributed to the role of the media, the role of the media teams who have worked with the members of the Fourth Estate,” added Minister Muswere.
Similar sentiments were also echoed by NAC Chief Executive Officer, Dr Bernard Madzima in a speech read on his behalf by Amon Mpofu, Monitoring Evaluation Director, who said creating mutual partnerships with the media was important in telling the HIV and AIDS story.
“In convening this workshop, we are convinced that the proper flow of information on HIV and AIDS requires a mutual partnership between the media and ourselves,” he said.
He added that the partnership has led to the sharing of information, accurate and responsible reporting which in-turn contributes to the development agenda as enshrined in the National Development Strategy 1 (NDS1).
“Our strong belief in the role of the role of the media which already has been instrumental in improving our response.
“Workshops such as this one compliments our other efforts which include media tours, media awards and our regular dissemination of our diaries to the media,” added Dr Madzima.
NAC Board Member, Tatenda Chipungudzanye, added that journalists can contribute effectively to the national efforts to tame the HIV pandemic through their work.