Back to Index

ZNNP+ Chairperson's speech at the World AIDS Day
Zimbabwe National Network for People Living with HIV/AIDS (ZNNP+)
December 04, 2012

The Guest of Honour
Government Ministers
Members of Parliament
Madzi Mambo edu aripano
Members of the Diplomatic Community
Civil Society Organisations
Invited Guests

Ladies and Gentlemen

Allow me to grace these few minutes to acknowledge the effort and work towards "Getting to Zero" done to date by all stakeholders and coordinated by the National AIDS Council.

Today is World AIDS Day. It is a day we dedicate to raising awareness of the AIDS pandemic caused by the spread of HIV infection. It is a day people the world over unite in the fight against HIV and AIDS. It is a day we take time to remember and honour our dear departed. It is a day we reflect and rededicate ourselves to "Getting to Zero".

"Getting to Zero" is the theme for this WAD. "Getting to Zero" does not need academics to define or explain to us. "Getting to Zero" means exactly getting to Zero. "Getting to Zero" is not and should not be an academic issue. "Getting to Zero" should not only end on paper. We must see, feel and experience actions targeting Zero New Infections, Zero Deaths and Zero Discrimination.

We have more questions than answers, as people living with HIV, with regards to "Getting to Zero". There is 1,2 million people living with HIV in Zimbabwe, and about 500,000 of us are on ART. Where is the balance? Do they know their status? Are they not living contrary to the theme "Getting to Zero"?

The year 2012 has not been kind with respect to drug shortages. We are either on long waiting lists or risk treatment failure, this is attributed to several factors, drug resistance, drug stock outs , changes in treatment regimen among others. The question is "Does this help us in "Getting to Zero"?

The National AIDS Council and ZNNP+ have coexisted since the formation of the National AIDS Council in 1999. Actually ZNNP+ played a leading role in the formation of NAC. Without going into a lot of detail, a group of HIV positive people marched from Marondera to Harare in supporting the establishment of the National AIDS Trust Fund (NATF) popularly known as the AIDS Levy. ZNNP+ has managed to remain operational through tremendous and invaluable support from NAC over the years. Through NAC, ZNNP+ has offices in all the 10 provinces and has structures at national, provincial, district, ward and village level.

NAC, we most sincerely thank you for your dedicated effort to date. Your guidance, counsel and contribution in the fight against HIV have been invaluable. Your effort is highly recognised and appreciated.

We also have challenges as PLHIV. We have challenges with excellent speeches and glorious promises. Tanzwa neku kwidzwa ndege dzemashanga mufunge zvenyu imi. Where is the meaningful involvement of people living with HIV in the critical phases of planning, management, control and review? MIPA should not only be at implementation. We are really concerned that without the earnest and meaningful involvement of PLHIV in all processes, getting to zero will but remain a pipedream.

We do not mean to spoil the broth, but in our minds the journey towards Zero will be shortened, if we plan, share, implement and control, together.

We are saying to all stakeholders here present; please reconsider the following key contributions to the fight against HIV:

• Reconsider allocating 15% of the national budget to the health sector as per the Abuja Declaration
• Reconsider the more effective use of local resources in the HIV and AIDS response
• Reconsider priorities in resource allocations
• Reconsider granting more support to Zimbabwe rather than reduce funding
• Reconsider our education policies, our legislation and generally the way we conduct our business so that there is a concerted effort towards "Getting to Zero".

The dream of getting to zero will materialize sooner than later if we all pull together as equal partners in the national response
Then and only then shall we be able to say we are indeed getting to zero.

Thank you for listening

Visit the ZNNP+ fact sheet

Please credit www.kubatana.net if you make use of material from this website. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons License unless stated otherwise.

TOP