New World AIDS Campaign Theme Logo Launched
The World AIDS Campaign theme and logo has been launched by the Mashonaland West Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Honourable Mary Mliswa-Chikoka in Chinhoyi. The launch comes ahead of the World AIDS Day whose preparations are now at an advanced stage.
This year’s theme reads: End Pandemics, End Inequalities, End AIDS’’ which is quite befitting with the need for every Zimbabwean to prioritise not just HIV testing but also prevention interventions for other pandemics such as COVID-19 and addressing inequalities that hinder access to HIV and other health related services. There is a need to continue addressing bottlenecks in health services delivery and non-communicable diseases so that Zimbabwe can achieve the global goal of ending AIDS by 2030.
“Our theme this year is particularly important in that COVID-19 as a pandemic has slowed down the momentum gained in the past towards ending AIDS, hence if we are to end AIDS by 2030, there is need to integrate pandemics like COVID-19 in the response to HIV and AIDS,” said Honourable Mliswa-Chikoka. She went on to say that the theme demands the urgent need to end the inequalities that drive AIDS and other pandemics in the country. This, she said, calls for integrated efforts and not leaving anyone behind in order to address the growing inequalities in accessing essential HIV services. She highlighted that the populations that come to mind with regards to inequalities include key populations – sex workers, adolescent girls and young women, adolescent boys and young men, men who have sex with men, transgender, artisanal miners, fishermen, cross border traders, long distance truck drivers, and farming communities, among others. These groups have greater exposure to contracting HIV due to either their lifestyle, social or economic standing.
Zimbabwe has done well in terms of strengthening the response to HIV and AIDS over the years, largely through the decentralized, targeted intervention and combination prevention approaches and provision of antiretroviral therapy.
Globally, the World AIDS Day is commemorated on 1 December. In Zimbabwe, this year’s commemorations will take place in Chinhoyi, Mashonaland West province. The event, which will be hybrid in nature, will take place under strict observation of the COVID-19 prevention measures.
According to UNAIDS, economic, social, cultural and legal inequalities must be ended as a matter of urgency if we are to end AIDS by 2030. Without bold action against inequalities, the world risks missing the targets to end AIDS by 2030, as well as a prolonged COVID-19 pandemic and a spiraling social and economic crisis.