The Sunday Mail
Tadiwa Nyatanga-Pfupa
The National Aids Council (NAC) will as usual be participating in the 60th edition of the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair (ZITF) under the theme: “Propagating industrial growth through trade and investment.”
Zimbabwe, like other countries, has embarked on a Fast-Track strategy to end the AIDS epidemic by 2030. NAC will use this platform to showcase that as a country we are on course towards ending AIDS by 2030. The organisation will also exhibit how it has effectively responded to the epidemic through the multi-sectoral approach over the years. The fair comes at a time when NAC is running with the World AIDS Campaign theme 2018/2019 which says: “Know Your Status”.
The theme has been broadened further to encourage people to know their HIV status as well as their TB, Diabetes, STI and Cancer status among other conditions. People will be visiting the ZITF for various reasons. Some will be coming to exhibit, some to see what is being exhibited or to buy products on sale during the period. Whatever the reason for visiting the fair, people need to make time to get information that is beneficial to their health. The NAC stand is a must-visit for everyone who will be at the ZITF. Even those that had not planned to be at the ZITF should now plan to do so because NAC is exhibiting.
NAC has packaged information for people of all ages, race, social standing and creed. Information to be provided will be on the prevention and management of HIV, Elimination of Mother To Child Transmission of HIV and Syphilis, cancer prevention and management, TB, Non-communicable diseases, STIs and a lot more. Information on nutrition and positive living for those living with HIV and AIDS will also be available at the NAC stand.
Young people (10-24 years) have been classified as a key population as they are at greater risk of getting infected with HIV than adults. NAC realises the importance of this generation and will have a section specifically set for young people on the stand. Here there will be peer to peer discussions, video screening, dialogues and written information to take home. It will be in the best interests of all young people to visit the NAC stand and get this life saving information. Young women and girls will also get information that will empower them to be able to refuse to engage in transactional sex or ensure that they have safe sex at the right time. Even young children of primary school going age should visit the NAC stand as there is some information for them too.
There will be HIV testing and counselling as well as TB screening at the stand. Families and individuals are encouraged to come and take up these services as well as to get information that will help them lead long and healthy lives. Those who are HIV positive will know how to live positively and those who are negative will get information on how to maintain their negative status.
NAC’s provincial manager for Bulawayo province, Mrs Sinatra Nyathi, said that NAC is more than ready for the exhibition. “We have prepared our exhibition in a manner that will see us having something for everyone. Feedback from clients inquiries at NAC’s district and provincial offices as well on the organisation’s social media platforms and comments from other exhibitions that we participate in across the country have also contributed to our package for this year,” she said. Mrs Nyathi added that while getting a prize as in other years will be a welcome development, the organisation’s major reason of being at the exhibition is to give out life saving information.
The NAC stand is at the CIH Pavillion, Inkonkoni Drive and Thomas Meikle Boulevard in the ZITF grounds.
