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Multiple
community programmes simultaneously fight HIV/AIDS in Zimbabwe
Tsitsi Singizi, United Nations Children's Fund
(UNICEF)
November 06, 2007
http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/RWB.NSF/db900SID/EGUA-78XTGX?OpenDocument&rc=1&cc=zwe
MUTARE, Zimbabwe,-
Cabby Chinamasa has just spent half his day teaching gym to energetic
seventh graders, but the 23-year-old gymnastics teacher is not resting
yet. His next assignment is even more ambitious: He is working as
a youth volunteer on the UNICEF-supported programme, 'Kicking AIDS
Out Through Sport'.
"We're building
healthy bodies and confidence and, most importantly, raising HIV
awareness through this programme," said Mr. Chinamasa.
Across Zimbabwe, community
programmes such as the one that Mr. Chinamasa leads are thriving.
Against a backdrop of
a shrinking economy, rising unemployment and an orphan crisis, Zimbabwean
youth are defying bitter odds. Through community-based programmes
of sport and peer education, they are accessing critical life skills
and HIV-prevention information.
Programmes
working together
In partnership
with donor countries and government ministries, UNICEF is supporting
many programmes in Zimbabwe, including HIV-education training for
teachers, and girls' empowerment movements in rural schools.
The 'Kicking AIDS Out
Through Sport' programme is supported by UNICEF in partnership with
UNICEF Norway, the Norwegian Olympic Committee and Zimbabwe's Sport
and Recreational Commission.
Another programme, 'Young
People, We Care', is an innovative youth-mentoring project supported
by the European Commission's Office for Humanitarian Affairs that
serves the dual role of providing care in local communities and
reducing risky behaviour among youths.
'Great
news for Zimbabweans'
A study
released last week said that Zimbabwe's HIV rate continues to
drop, giving it one of the most significant declines of any country
in the world.
The biggest fall in HIV
prevalence among pregnant women was reported in the 15-to-24 age
group, showing a drop from 20.8 percent to 13.1 percent between
2002 and 2006.
"This is great news
for Zimbabweans, and great news for all the organizations which
have been working so tirelessly on HIV prevention," said UNICEF
Representative in Zimbabwe Festo Kavishe. "However, there remains
an urgent need to boost prevention and treatment programmes in Zimbabwe."
The
goal of universal access
For varied
reasons, many Zimbabweans are not receiving the care and education
they need. Without additional funds, universal access to HIV/AIDS
treatment will not be attained.
Moreover, while there
has been an increase in services for the prevention of mother-to-child
transmission, much more needs to be done to make these programmes
available to women throughout the country.
"Zimbabweans have
shown that they have the determination and the education to defeat
HIV/AIDS," said the Chief of the HIV/AIDS programme for UNICEF
Harare, Nicolette Moodie.
"However, this is
not the moment for complacency. Rather, we must take advantage of
this positive action by youth and invest even greater energy and
resources to ensure this current positive trend is sustained."
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