Zimbabweans have been urged to continuously observe and follow Covid-19 regulations so as to avoid the further spread of the virus.
The warning came after last week President Emmerson Mnangagwa eased lockdown measures from level four lockdown to level two which resulted in curfew hours being extended, intercity travelling permitted whilst restaurants and bottle stores were allowed to operate with strict adherence to Covid-19 protocols.
Speaking at the handover for the 2020 National AIDS Council Media Awards, Minister of Information Publicity and Broadcasting Services Monica Mutsvangwa urged the public to continuously abide to Covid-19 regulations despite the recent relaxation of Covid-19 measures by the President.
“This event comes just a few days following the relaxation of COVID-19 regulations, fortuitously allowing for this event to take place. The relaxation of the COVID-19 regulations does not however mean that the situation has normalised. We therefore have to continue observing the containment measures in place such as social distancing, correctly washing and sanitising of hands, and wearing of face masks,” said Mutsvangwa.
She also appreciated the role that the media is playing in spreading awareness information to help the public fight against the Covid-19 pandemic.
“May I take this opportunity to thank the media fraternity for its role in the widespread dissemination of information on COVID-19, which has empowered our people to practice safe behaviour, just like you did when we battled to contain the HIV/AIDS pandemic. I am convinced that we shall prevail once again over COVID-19 if we continue working together as stakeholders, with the media informing, educating and warning our people about the pandemic,” she said.
Mutsvangwa encouraged the media to continuously disseminate informative information on Covid-19 the same way they did on HIV and AIDS.
“The media has therefore been instrumental in the realisation of the progress we have achieved in the response to HIV and AIDS over the years. We can once again rely on your expertise as well as that of the programmers to change the trajectory and reverse the tide of the equally formidable COVID-19 pandemic.
“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 services are part of these achievements that the media has played a key part in,” she added.
Although Zimbabwe has recorded some significant progress in the response to both HIV and COVID-19, as confirmed by the recent Global AIDS Progress Report for HIV, and the decline in new COVID-19 cases, a lot still need to be done to dispel various myths and cultural practices that still abound including widespread complacence which stunts the country’s progress.
