Minister Of Information, Publicity, and Broadcasting Services, Monica Mutsvangwa says knowledge on HIV and AIDS has significantly improved over the years whilst commending the media for making that possible.
The Minister said this at the National AIDS Council Media Awards Ceremony today where journalists from various media organizations scooped different awards.
These journalists includes Robin Muchetu from Sunday news who was awarded the first price, Andile Tshuma from chronicle was second whilst Debra Matabvu from The Herald won the third award.
Speaking at the event Minister Mutsvangwa said the media plays a big role in giving knowledge to the people concerning HIV and AIDS.
“The media is one of the key drivers of widespread awareness and knowledge our people have about HIV and AIDS including the utilization of prevention and treatment services,
“It is fair to say that reportage on HIV and AIDS has significantly improved over the years especially on building and instilling hope instead of the yester-year scary and gory stories, which put forward HIV as a death sentence,” Mutsvangwa said.
Moreover, the Minister of Information said the media has played a key part in a number of achievements which includes the increase in Covid-19 awareness.
“The increase in HIV and Covid -19 awareness, the uptake of prevention and vaccination services, the continued decline in HIV incidence and prevalence and the uptake of treatment service are part of these achievements that the media has played a key part in.,” she added.
Furthermore, Minister Mutsvangwa said she is pleased with recent reports about Zimbabwe reaching reaching the 90-90-90 by 2020 targets.
“I was pleased with recent reports that Zimbabwe has archived its 90-90-90 by 2020 targets through which the majority of people living with HIV now know their status, are on treatment and are virally suppressed.
“Now that we have adopted the 95-95-95 by 2025, we are well on course towards epidemic control and eventual ending of AIDS as a public health threat by 2030,” Mutsvangwa said.
National AIDS Council (NAC) is an organization established through the Act Of Parliament of 1999 to coordinate and facilitate the national multi-sectoral response to HIV and AIDS.