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Zimbabwe joins the world in commemorating World AIDS Day
SAfAIDS
January 14, 2002

Every year on December 1^st we reflect on HIV/AIDS. This year Zimbabweans joined the rest of the world to commemorating World AIDS Day.

The theme for this year’s campaign is "I Care, Do You?", with a focus on young men and HIV/AIDS.

Facts on HIV/AIDS in Zimbabwe

• In 1999, there were over 623 000 AIDS orphans in Zimbabwe (UNAIDS, 2001).
• At the end of 1999 about 25% of Zimbabwean adults were living with HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS, WHO, 2000)
• HIV and STIs are largely transmitted through heterosexual sex (UNAIDS, 2000)

Young men are increasingly at risk of contracting HIV. Across the world, almost a third of people living with HIV/AIDS are between the ages of 15 and 24, and 50% of 15-year-old boys are expected to die before the age of fifty in countries that are hardest hit by the epidemic (UNAIDS, 2001). In Zimbabwe, 50% of HIV cases occur under the age of 25 (Ministry of Health and Child Welfare, 2000). A compounding factor is that many young people do not know that they are at risk. Some are unclear on how and why they should protect themselves. The campaign is aimed at making young men aware that multiple sexual partners and other forms of risky sexual behaviour can increase their risk of infection.

A recent Panos report indicates that it is important to target young men because they account for up to a quarter of the world’s population living with HIV/AIDS.

World AIDS Campaign 2001

There are five major reasons why the 2001 World AIDS Campaign focuses on young men:

• Awareness campaigns have been targeted at women, with very little attention being paid to the role of men in the fight against HIV/AIDS. In general, men are more likely to engage in behaviour that puts them at risk of infection. Men are less likely to pay much attention to their sexual health and safety than women, and are more likely to use alcohol and other substances that might lead to unsafe sex. They are less likely to seek medical attention than women, yet men often cope less effectively than women under stressful conditions like living with HIV/AIDS.
• Men’s behaviour puts women at risk of HIV infection. Often, male infection impacts female partners, who according to UNAIDS, are biologically more susceptible to infection. The number of infected men outstrips their female counterparts.
• HIV is more easily transmitted from men to women. On average, men have more sex partners than women. Men who sleep with other men may have female partners as well. They can infect both their male and female partners. An HIV infected man is therefore more likely to transmit the virus to more people in a life time than an infected woman.
• Denial attached to sexual intercourse between men has resulted in inadequate protection and prevention measures being taken.
• As current and future fathers, young men need to take a greater role in the fight against HIV/AIDS. They should be aware that by engaging in risky sexual behaviour, they are putting the lives of their partners and children at risk. Commenting on the 2001 theme, the UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan said: "Men can make a difference – by being more caring, by taking fewer risks and by facing the issue of AIDS head-on."

Activities

Zimbabweans marked World AIDS Day with concerts, marches and fundraisers. Activities of the day were preceded by a national launch held at Murambinda growth point in Buhera District in Manicaland Province.

In the Harare, thousands of men, women and children marched from different designated points and converged at the city’s townhouse from where they were led by the Zimbabwe Republic Police Band to the First Street Mall. The Deputy Minister of Health Dr David Parirenyatwa addressed the gathering.

In 2000, Zimbabwe introduced an AIDS levy, a 3% deduction on all income tax. The $1.9 billion raised through the levy has yet to be distributed. The Deputy Minister said that the government has put in place mechanisms through which money from the levy will be distributed. He noted that government will ensure that funds are distributed to the deserving.

Led by the men’s forum PADARE/Enkhundleni, hundreds of placard waving men marched from the northern outskirts of the city centre to Townhouse. An official with PADARE/Enkhundleni, Mr Nicholas Mkaronda said that it was important for men to take a leading role in HIV/AIDS care, prevention and treatment. Mr Mkaronda said, "Because men are mainly decision-makers in sexual matters between couples, they have to be heavily involved in this fight."

The Harare chapter of the National Youth Forum mobilised youth from the capital’s high density suburbs. Youth from Mabvuku, Tafara and Epworth gathered to the east of the city centre, while those from Mbare, Highfield, Glenview and Glen Norah gathered at the famous Stodart Hall in Mbare. Singing and waving placards, the two groups of youth converged at Townhouse to join their older colleagues.

At Townhouse, the men and youth joined representatives from NGOs, AIDS Services Organisations, women’s groups, the civic community and government representatives. Musicians such as Mitchell Jambo and Patricia Matongo entertained the crowd.

The National AIDS Council, Zimbabwe AIDS Network and the City Health Department played a pivotal role in ensuring the smooth flow of events.

The Southern Africa AIDS Information Dissemination Service (SAfAIDS), in collaboration with Zimbabwe AIDS Network (ZAN) organised a candlelight vigil at the Africa Unity Square in memory of those who died of AIDS. Representatives from the music sector, faith-based, youth groups and NGOS joined SAfAIDS and ZAN. The vigil started with a prayer at Africa Unity Square and a march in the streets of Harare, and ended with another prayer at the Square.

The events on December 1^st, were preceded by a number of activities the most notable of which are: the radio and television programmes and a discussion forum that SAfAIDS organised; and workshops focusing on HIV/AIDS and men that were organized by PADARE.

This year’s celebration highlighted the important role men play as brothers, fathers, uncles and husbands in the prevention and control of the HIV/AIDS. HIV/AIDS can be prevented through the combined efforts by men and women. The World AIDS campaign will continue throughout the year to focus on raising awareness among young men and boys.

Visit the SAfAIDS fact sheet

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