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Sixty-one Zimbabwean lawmakers have
volunteered to undergo public HIV testing and counseling on June 22 to raise
public awareness of the disease and fight stigma. Twenty-eight male legislators
also will undergo circumcision, which research has shown reduces men’s risk of
contracting HIV through sex.
“We want to inspire the people that
we represent,” said lawmaker Blessing Chebundo, chair of the Zimbabwe
Parliamentarians Against HIV/AIDS, which formed in March.
Chebundo explained that the
lawmakers will not be obliged to publicize their HIV test results. While
members of the public and AIDS advocates applaud the move by the lawmakers,
some say not revealing their HIV results weakens the outreach.
Sipho Mahlangu, of the Zimbabwe
National Network of People Living with HIV/AIDS, said: “It’s a welcome
development, but we expect one or two, or all of them to come out in the open
and share their results. This will be the basis of their advocacy to create
greater awareness.”
“The point is never to publicize
one’s results,” Chebundo responded. “The point is for people to be able to know
their status and act responsibly. And when the nation as a whole knows the
level of infection, we are then able to make proper arrangements in terms of
prevention.”
Zimbabwe has seen a steady decline
in HIV prevalence over the past ten years due to heightened public awareness
and fear of infection, according to a survey published in February 2011 by the
US journal PLoS Medicine. In addition, experts say increased condom use and
steady supplies of HIV drugs from donor agencies have played a vital role.
The Friends of AIDS Foundation is
dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for HIV positive individuals and
empowering people to make healthy choices to prevent the spread of the HIV
virus. To learn more about The Friends of AIDS Foundation, please visit: http://www.friendsofaids.org.
TOGETHER WE REMAIN STRONG!
