NAC donates 70 bicycles to volunteers in Byo

THE National Aids Council (Nac) on Friday donated 70 bicycles to community volunteers in Bulawayo to ease their movement as they assist HIV and Aids patients and to disseminate information on the virus in the region which has the highest HIV prevalence.

Nac provincial manager for Bulawayo province Sinatre Nyathi said the southern region remained heavily-burdened with HIV infections.

“Matabeleland South is leading the country with 17, 6%, Matabeleland North 14, 9% while Bulawayo is at 14%,” Nyathi said.

She said Aids service organisations were implementing an HIV behavioural and bio-medical intervention combination strategy which will help end the pandemic and achieve the 2030 vision.

Last year, Nac donated 130 bicycles worth $3, 7 million to community volunteers in Mashonaland Central province to help them reach all areas in response to HIV and Aids.

Local Government and Public Works ministry officials attended the handover ceremony where different volunteer groups such as the Sister to Sister, Dreams, World Food Programme, Power Lead and Brother to Brother received bicycles.

Economic Development in the Local Government ministry director Gladys Zizhou urged volunteers to ensure they educate young people in Bulawayo to desist from risky sexual behaviours exhibited as Vuzu parties.

“The Nac activities should target young people by implementing peer led models where young mentors reach out to their peers with information on sexual reproductive health rights,” she said.

“Transport challenges faced by volunteers have now come to an end after procurement of bicycles by Nac to enable the volunteers to reach all corners of their wards.”