Chiefs hail Amai Mnangagwa
TRADITIONAL leaders have applauded First Lady Amai Auxillia Mnangagwa for taking a leading role in ensuring citizens have access to quality and affordable healthcare.
On the sidelines of the 2018 World AIDS Day Celebrations in Glendale yesterday, Mazowe district Paramount Chief Makope (Mr Jacob Mapirinjanja) said the First Lady was showing her dedication to improved health for the disadvantaged.
He said traditional leaders would assist her efforts, as well as Government programmes aimed at improving the health delivery.
“As traditional leaders, we are happy over the manner in which the First Lady is showing love for Zimbabweans. The previous First Lady did not have such a caring heart,” he said. “We have observed how she has taken time to visit our hospitals to appreciate how patients are being treated.”
Chief Makope said traditional leaders had a big role to play in the fight against HIV and AIDS.
“We, traditional leaders, will work with the Government and other stakeholders such as the National AIDS Council and the Dreams Programme so as to fight HIV and AIDS until we achieve our target to rid of the disease totally by 2030,” said Chief Makope.
“The programmes that are being implemented by NAC in the district are showing positive signs as we are witnessing a decrease of HIV in the District.”
The Determined, Resilient, Empowered, AIDS-free, Mentored and Safe (Dreams) Project seeks to reduce HIV infections among adolescent girls and young women in 10 African countries.
Mashonaland Central is characterised by farming and mining activities, with many people living in compounds where there are high incidences of STIs and HIV.
Mashonaland Central Provincial Chief’s Council Chair Senator Clemence Nembire (Chief Nembire) called on Zimbabweans to shun immoral sexual behaviour to curb the spread of HIV.
He hailed the First Lady’s health initiatives, adding: “Amai Mnangagwa is doing good because she is always on the ground taking a leading role. She hardly has time to rest and is always on the go attending to various issues for the betterment of our people’s lives.”