BY MUNYARADZI BLESSING DOMA
Zimbabwe’s HIV programmes should be guided by science if we are to attain the goal of ending AIDS by 2030, National AIDS Council (NAC) Chief Executive Officer, Dr Bernard Madzima has said.
Dr Madzima said that it would be most appreciated if the evidence and data gathered in local.
He said this while speaking at the Parliamentarians HIV and AIDS Sensitization Workshop organised by NAC at the New Parliament Building on Friday.
Dr Madzima was updating legislators on the International Conference on AIDS and STIs in Africa (ICASA) 2023 which the country hosted, as he added that it was a great success.
Dr Madzima also said the ICASA 2023 report which is now out, spoke to several issues.
“The outcomes of ICASA 2023 spoke also to issues of leadership; that we need a strong leadership if we are going to have success in the HIV space, but also to have our programmes in Zimbabwe being led by science, being led by evidence.
“We want to ensure that we implement programmes where we have evidence and data to show us and this data will be most appreciated if its local data.
“So we want to encourage our scientists to research and also the other issue which came out was that communities should take charge of HIV programmes.
“So all this is now guiding the HIV and AIDS programme as we go towards the 2030 targets,” said Dr Madzima.
He also applauded President Emmerson Mnangagwa for his commitment for the country to host ICASA 2023.
“I know some of you really attended the events which took place in Victoria Falls and in Harare.
“The report for ICASA 2023 is out and I would like to say that it was a great success and I would really want to thank all Zimbabweans, starting with his Excellency, the President DR E.D. Mnangagwa for his commitment to hosting the event.
“The country showcased its excellency in various aspects including tourism and indeed it showed that Zimbabwe was open for business,” added Dr Madzima.
The ICASA 2023 report shows that 8 118 participants from 105 countries convened for the conference and women were 45 percent of that number.
Last year was the second time the country has hosted ICASA, after initially hosting it in 2015.
