By Lerato Ndlovu
Today the world commemorates AIDS day, for Zimbabwe the national event is being hosted in Mashonaland West.
The event will be celebrated today at Chinhoyi University of Technology (CUT) grounds
Vice President and Health Minister General C.G. Chiwenga(retired) is expected to officiate the event running under the 2021-22 theme ” End Pandemics, End Inequalities, End AIDS”, with a special focus on reaching people left behind and highlighting the growing inequalities in access to essential HIV services.
Mashonaland West Minister for Provincial affairs Mary Mliswa-Chikoka said its an honor for the province to host such an event at a time when the pandemic is hitting rock bottom and causing mayhem across the world.
“We are greatly honored to host the 2021 World Aids Day commemorations. This is an opportunity to introspect on gaps and inequalities hindering access to health services.”
“It calls for integrated efforts and we must leave no one behind in closing the gap. Key populations like sex workers, artisanal miners, cross border traders, fishermen, all should be taken on board as we commit to community-led interventions,” she said.
WHO Director General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus urged governments and citizens to use everything in their tool boxes to narrow inequalities, end HIV infections, save lives and the AIDS pandemic.
