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Conrad Mupesa Mashonaland West Bureau

INFORMATION, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Deputy Minister Kindness Paradza has challenged the media to include other diseases in their reportage as the nation targets to eliminate HIV/AIDS by 2030.

Officiating at a National Aids Council (NAC) two-day workshop for editors from print and electronic media houses drawn from across the country in Chinhoyi today, Deputy Minister Paradza appealed to the media to ensure that HIV/AIDS as well as Covid-19 stories integrate non-communicable diseases, such as cancer, kidney ailments, heart conditions, diabetes and others which are strongly associated with HIV as co-infections.

“These are fast overtaking AIDS as the major killers. Our people are dying in silence and stigma due to lack of knowledge and late presentation at health centres. Take up your role as the torch bearers of our society, and provide education and information about prevention and treatment of these non-communicable diseases,” he said.

He said the media, as information torch bearers and policy makers, need to raise the issues and call for behaviour change among the people in reducing consumption of harmful foods.

He reminded the media personnel to act responsibly as they were equally susceptible to the risk of HIV and Covid-19 infection.

In her vote of thanks, Zimbabwe National Editors Forum (Zinef) vice-chairperson and editor of the country’s largest Sunday newspaper, The Sunday Mail, Victoria Ruzvidzo pledged the media’s support towards the fight against ending HIV/AIDS.

The meeting’s purpose is to strengthen the partnership between the NAC and editors towards the national response to HIV and AIDS.