Monday, December 1, 2008
It is over, all the 24 hours, he has done IT!
half an hour to go
SMS|A single moment can change a million
Keith BIG-daddie-St Mary's
SMS|Mr Lee u hav outdone urslf
TT, Tynwald
SMS|With u all e way
God bless
SMS| Tidzidzisei kunamata
I am Muza from Parirenyatwa
SMS|Program touching
uf
harare
SMS| Way to go Dj
Taffy Thru
Harare
SMS|Inspirational
t h-town
Summary of interview with Medeline Dube on whta happened in Bindura
COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR INTERVIEW
Medeline Dube
What happened in Bindura?
I want to appreciate your efforts, it is the first time that we have done, hope it will motivate more young people to change behavior. I would have wished more people would have come in the open to show that they are fasting with you. Also to all those who have fasted to donate the food that they were supposed to it.
National Aids Council coordinate the commemoration of the World Aids Day. The emphasis was on Leadership. Looking at everybody to take a lead, to do someintiative to prevent HIV/AIDS. Some or most people feel they are not immune to HIV/AIDS, we should take steps to avoid being emotional and consider protection to avoid infection in the process of caring for those who are infected. Some of our relatives who are positive do not expose their status and that exposes those taking care of them. So this year as Zimbabwe we have done well, there is a decline in the number of people infected by HIV, we have managed to translate the message into practice.
We need to know such information as relating to the window period after testing so that we avoid spreading the virus out of ignorance. We are hoping that we will see the prevalence rate going down. We were grateful to the Chipadze/Bindura community that they came in their numbers, we also appreciate the entertainment which carried messages of hope. For now we are want leadership to scale up support and treatment to all those who are infected.
The guest speaker baba namai Charamba was also present, belting out the hit song Mhinduro Iripo. Vice President Msika who was also present talked about our culture and how by observing some of its aspects we can prevent HIV/AIDS spreading. The governer also welcomed us into the Mashonaland Central province. The chairperson for an organization for people living with HIV/AIDS was also there sharing his testimony. The likes of Pastor Kapachawo were also present sharing testimonies.
There are other things which spread HIV/AIDS besides sexual intercourse, so we also need to know these and prevent its spreading.
We also the opportunity to hear the Deputy Minister of Health explaining the ministry’s position on ART and issues related to access to treatment.
The guest of honor has very encouraging words, he brought all the leaders who were there, who he indicated to them that if they adopt a multi-sectoral approach it will really help the nation...more coming
SMS| Thanks 4 ur initiative
Behaviour change now
LG
SMS| I am going 2 e New Start now
anonymous
SMS| May e gud Lord further bless u
anonymous
SMS| Inspirational
XXXXXX of God
X within
X you,
is greater than the pressures around you. Keep going, Know and Believe GOD IS WITH YOUR.
Rufaro hre
SMS| Take ARVs
Getting HIV is not dying u can be helped 2 live long.
anonymous
SMS| 2gthr we wil overcome
Natham Gutu(Dputy Director of the Winners Forum-Calvary Family Church)
SMS|Stigmatisation
anonymous
SMS| Fasting with u
anonymous
SMS| Fasting
Clarice
SMS| Thanx 4ur courage Leander
With u in Prayers
Kisimisi
Harare
SMS| Thank you
mai chiedza
SMS| Encouragement
MN
SMS| Encouragement
Keep going with the marathon we are behind u. my message for you today, i would like to encourage those who haven't tested(mostlt teenagers) to go and get tested so that they can plan for the future.
i am leonard in highfield.
Urban Grooves Messages
Blame Game Won't Change a Thing
Harare, 4 october 2008 (allAfrica) - She is young and very striking. That type of girl that would give most of my male colleagues' ideas; if she ever looked their way. She is very pretty, what my male colleagues term the "typical African queen." However when you look deeply into her eyes, you can tell she is sad.
But what would make such a pretty and young lady sad? Mutsa (not her real name) is living with HIV. It is not that knowledge however that is responsible for the sadness that surrounds her very being.It is anger and a sense of betrayal.
Anger and betrayal, that she feels towards her former lover, a medical doctor, who she says infected her with HIV.
When Mutsa got in touch with me about her story, I felt very betrayed on her behalf.
There she was, going out with a medical doctor, someone who has all the knowledge about HIV transmission. This was the first man she had ever been with and he had the nerve to infect her with HIV, I felt.
But then, I began to wonder!
Did he even know that he was HIV positive?
Yes, he may have slept with other women before or besides Mutsa but this does not mean he knew his status and therefore willingly infected his girlfriend.
And why did Mutsa have unprotected sex with him when she did not know his status?
I am a woman; I champion the women's cause as much as I can because I sincerely believe that life has not been very kind to woman-kind.
However, I am a journalist and must look at both sides of the coin. I must be objective.
There are many women who are living angry lives unnecessarily. They are filled with so much bitterness at the fact that their husbands and partners have infected them with HIV.
This anger in some cases, is so intense that it eats up one's very passion for life.
They wish these men could just be thrown into jail for committing such heinous crimes.
Is this necessarily fair to the men in question and the women themselves?
A cursory glance shows that most women who are living with HIV blame a man for their status and this is understandable.
It is a fact that most men sleep with several women at the same time. How many women can safely say they have never been played?
Definitely not me!
But if we know we are or have been played, should we not begin to look out for ourselves?
Another interesting truth is that even women, who have had other sexual encounters before marriage, are quick to point a finger to the man when they test positive.
This is despite the fact that some of them would not have tested before entering this relationship.
Ever think for a moment that you could actually have been positive before, sisters?
If the truth be told, there are some men who have also been infected by women. But how many times do you hear people sympathising with a man?
Is this because men do admit to having been around and done that, unlike their female counterparts?
Multiple concurrent partnerships, especially the "small house" syndrome, are very popular in southern Africa and this is a documented fact.
Such partnerships have been identified as a key driver of HIV in the region.
Because men keep the majority of small houses, whenever transmission occurs, a finger is pointed at them and quite rightly so, mostly.
But what does just blaming them achieve if women do not stand up and begin to look out for themselves.
MORE ABOUT THE BLAME GAME
More information SafAIds here: http://www.safaids.org.zw
This year they have worked on the development of a children's tool kit on AIDS, also involved in culture, gender and policy dialogue .
According to Fungai, SafAids rep, culture is not but there is a certain areas that need to be worked in order to accomodate HIV and AIDS issues.
Why do young people hide our status:
Yound pple have the invincible feeling, that nothing can happen to them, that HIV/AIDS is for older people, so they do not go for testing or even use protection.
Who then should take the blame(Man or Woman?)
?????????????
Dr Mashaire talking about HIV and AIDS Issues
Dr Stanford Mashaire, HIV/AIDS Program Manager with the Harare City Health Department a medical doctor who specialise in HIV/AIDS issues is talking about HIV/AIDS testing and information in relation to ARVs. His main advise is take the tests early so that you start ARV treatment when your immune system is not yet severly damaged. Issues he discussed relate to ARVs, counselling (pre and post testing). Positive living and medical attention works when you know your status. Positive living information, nutritious foods, planning for the future all that is available from trained counsillors and HIV/AIDS once you are tested. If you know your status early, you will even know about planning on children etc
He talked about the clinics the City operate which includes two OI Hospitals and 57 polyclinics. The two OIs are a gateway to ARVs. He aslo talked about the WHO staging, CD4 counts and the various ARVs available.
Dr Stanford Mashaire's Message to Zimbabwe
DON'T GET INFECTED BUT IF YOU DO, DO NOT HIDE IT, GO AND GET TESTED, GET ALL THE HELP THAT YOU NEED. PREVENTION THOUGH IS THE MAIN SOLUTION.
INITIATE SEXUAL ACTIVITY AT A DELAYED STAGE.
The Program So Far
Midnight to 0500hrs
Music and important HIV and AIDS messages
0500 to 0600hrs
Reflections/Ndangariro/Siyakhumbula
There was a compilation of music in memory of those who have died as a result of AIDS. Leander was taking calls from those who lost their relatives to AIDS related illnesses, the he also gave a brief backgound of HIV and AIDS in Zimbabwe over the years dating back to 1984 when the first case was reported, bringing ot ow HIV was considered a death sentence, unavailabilty of ARVs, stigmatisation and discrimination
The Power Breakfast Show - 0600 to 0900hrs
The story continue with sharing of info relating to the key drivers of Zimbabwe's epidemic issues like multiple concurrent partnerships(like small houese, intergenerational sex etc)
0900 to 1000hrs
The hour focused on "Zimbabwe Decline" highlighting some of the success stories resulting in the decline in HIV prevalence. There were also highlights on behavioural change, delaye sexual debut by young girls, uptake in VCT etc.
1000 o 1100hrs
Focus was on men and their responsibilty in the face of HIV and AIDS. Professor Ezra Chitando helped explore this area.
1100 to 1200 hrs
The session highlighted the role of women in society as well as human rights for women versus tradition and culture.Also explored important role played by women in the fight against HIV and AIDS.
1200 to 1300hrs
The Voiceless Heard:
During the session there were testimonies given by listeners who are living with HIV and AIDS. Listeners were also phoning in.
1300 to 1400 hrs
There were pre-recorded messages and live messages from Zimbabwe's best known personalities on the World Aids Day
1400 to 1500hrs
There was a discussion on HIV and AIDS in relation to migration...IOM (International Organisation for Migration) representatives talked so much about initiatives they are working on to help Zimbabweans.
1500 to 1600hrs
The Harare Junior council rpresentatives are currently in the studio discussing HIV/AIDS and the youth.
